The boy’s under-14 basketball team of Don Bosco High School and Junior College Naigaon East, Mumbai, Maharashtra, for the second consecutive year won the Basketball DSO Tournament held by the Vasai-Virar Mahanagarpalika, at St. Augustine’s Grounds, on 27th September, 2023.The boys were able to notch a win against St. Xavier’s, Virar, winning with a score,5-1. The boys managed to take home their victory after keeping an aggressive opponent team at bay, with the skills and training imparted by their coach, Sir Abraham Thomas. “The budding players were beset by various emotions and were apprehensive. But at the end they did well. They will be practicing hard now as they have qualified for the Mumbai Divisional Level Tournament”, reported Sir Abraham Thomas. The captain Joshua Okoh, scored four consecutive baskets putting an exclamation point on the scoring burst with a crafty up-and-under finish. He exclaimed, “It was a tough and close game. However, we put in all our efforts to make it through. We are gearing up for the next level and will work harder.”

Meanwhile, the girl’s, uder-17 basketball team and the girl’s under-14 basketball team bagged the 2nd place at the DSO on the same day. It is indeed a proud moment for the school and the college. This victory would not have been possible without the support and monitoring by the Vice-Principal, Fr. Joaquim Fernandes, SDB, who is in charge of sports and extracurricular activities at Don Bosco’s Naigaon. “I see teamwork and a sense of camaraderie among the students. I hope to encourage student collaboration and promote appreciation of each other’s strengths and weaknesses through sport”, said Fr Joaquim Fernandes.

Over whelmed by the consecutive victory of the students in the recent matches played, the Principal Fr. Anthony Fonseca congratulated the coaches and the team for their remarkable performance at the DSO. He said, “It is great to see such enthusiasm and high level of energy amongst students of different age groups. We hope that our basketball team and other teams will not rest on its laurels and will continue to raise goals for themselves.”

By – Dorothy Fernandes