Think out loud: Signing off on a winning note

The Faculty led by Prof Sengupta threw a challenge to GMP batch for a football match.The timing for GMPians could not have been better.With fourth term coming to a fag end, there was little excitement in the routine.GMPians took the challenge.What followed was a break from the late nights and some "Forced" practice sessions in the morning.Sourav Samtani led from the front,even if it meant giving morning wake up calls to the team members.Eventually colleagues used to avoid meeting him at dinner time fearing that he will coax them into a morning session next day.

To pull the rest of the batch to the field,Suraj fired his salvo by his mail...which served both as an invitation and a warning.

Extract reproduced below.

"They were not educated like the learned Romans; Only thing they could read were the ferocious eyes of their opponents. They did not belong to the noble blood, but they tasted blood to entertain the nobility,
When elite Roman studied astronomy and geometry, they learned the language of swords, arrows, dust and blood.
They were the Gladiators ……the entertainers of the elite.
2000 years have passed…………………………but the legend continues,

So as the elite GMPians will busy themselves with books, Some would be fighting for the pride of GMP on the football ground.
They don’t enjoy Grades, they don’t cherish Ranks,
What they enjoy is bruised knees and bleeding elbows.
Coming to cheer them is not the matter of Choice; It is the matter of Guts."

The mail did the trick. With GMPians coming out in big numbers, the stage was set for the big show.

As the Sun dropped a few degrees to welcome a hot evening, the XLRI football field heated up with an excellent football .The standard of play was expectedly high. Faculty team produced a performance in the first half that saw them levelled at 0-0 despite the GMP capturing the ball for 80% of the time. This first half included intense attacks by the GMPians, strong defence and some excellent airborne goalkeeper enabled saves by the faculty team.

Half Time- GMP- 0………………Faculty- 0

On the risk of a little digression, it should be pointed out that the referee was also feeling the intense competitive heat, but made his all time best efforts to keep up with the fast paced game. There were a few controversies regarding referee deciding against giving offside on two occasions but the high voltage drama continued with the right sportsman spirit. It was a fun filled game with spectators from all age groups. Adults, children, extra players and refreshment serving staff all cheered for their favourite side. The huge number of onlookers ensured enormous vocal output. Photographers with their variously sized cameras clicked every detail of the match.

The second half saw the introduction of young blood from the faculty team. These kids were campus residents and threatened complete demolition of the tiring GMPians. It was this half that saw increasing attacks from the faculty team. However GMPians led by their captain drew the first blood and scored two goals in quick successions. GMPians produced their best display in the past few weeks and proved too strong for faculty team, progressing to the final whistle with a couple of goals more. Thus the lead stretched to 4-0 and XLRI GMP team won the match with a BIG-BANG.

End of the match- GMP- 4…………………Faculty- 0

The agility of our professors and staff members showed their fitness and commitment level. The camaraderie amongst players was evident throughout the game and the post match handshakes and appreciation of each others’ game added to the healthy playing atmosphere. XLRI, we would miss so many things related to you and this match would certainly be one amongst them.