St. Xavier’s School, Kolhapur hosted a Football tournament in memory of Late Fr. Thomas Salve in collaboration with the alumni association, XESOKOP.
 

On the 20th and 21st of September 2025, the event was graced by Chief-Guest, Hon. Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati, Member of

Women’s Football Federation, New Delhi.

The event began with a grand opening ceremony in the school quadrangle featuring a traditional

bugle, school anthem and prayer.

The gathering of present and Ex-students created a nostalgic atmosphere bringing together the

Xaviers family.

The Dais was honoured by the presence of esteemed dignitaries including Hon. Madhurima Raje

Chhatrapati, Rev. Fr Andrew Fernandes SJ, Principal, Rev. Fr Francis D’Souza SJ, Superior &

Manager of St. Xavier’s High School, Rev. Fr Francis Raja SJ, Vice Principal, St. Vincent’s High

School, Pune, Mr Dilip Mohite, President, Mr. Pravin Solanki, Treasurer & Mr. Rajiv Lingras,

Managing Committee Member of Xesakop, along with Dr. Abhijeet Korane & Mr Richard

Fernandes, Ex-President of JAAI-WZC and many others.

Hon. Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati shared heartfelt memories of her experiences with Late Rev.

Fr. Thomas Salve SJ during his tenure at Chhatrapati Shahu School . She highlighted Fr. Tom’s

contribution to the school’s growth and nurturing environment. She also emphasized of the hard

work and dedication, attributes instilled in her by her teachers.

The assembly concluded with a speech by the Principal Rev. Fr. Andrew Fernandes, felicitation of

dignitaries with mementos and the display of the Champion trophy.

The tournament was declared open with a vibrant ceremony featuring the release of the balloons

and the ceremonial kick off by our esteemed dignitaries.

A Total of 22 teams participated in the tournament showcasing the enthusiasm and spirit of the

Xavier’s community.

On the first day 32 matches were played including thrilling performances by the girl’s team from

St. Xavier’s school. it was heart-warming to see xavierites of all ages come together on the field

displaying their passion for the sport and the school, the energy and excitement were palpable

making the event a true celebration of football and camaraderie, the ex-students were overjoyed

with nostalgic reliving fond memories as they played on the grounds of their Alma Mater, once

again with their fellow batchmates. The atmosphere was electric filled with excitement laughter

and a sense of camaraderie making the event a truly special experience.

On the 21st the tournament reached its climax with the semi-finals and finals, each team gave their

best, showcasing exceptional skill and sportsmanship, the ground buzzed with excitement as the

families of the players gathered to cheer them on. Kids beamed with pride watching their dads

play on familiar ground adding to the joyous atmosphere.The teams that qualified for the finals were the warrior batch of 2017 and the Golden Jubilee batch

of 2007-2008.

The match was incredibly intense with both teams displaying exceptional skill and determination.

The ground was electric filled with cheers and clapping from the enthusiastic crowd.

The match ended with a tie breaker and the stage was set for a penalty shoot-out. the silence that

followed was palpable reflecting the pressure and tension.

The evenings prize distribution ceremony was a grand affair with Rev. Fr. Andrew Fernandes,

Rev. Fr. Francis Dsouza and the alumni association members presenting the awards.

The 1995 batch was recognized as the best disciplined team, the best goal keeper was bagged by

Mr. Vedant Shinde and Mr. Kaushik Adhani as the Best player.

The Champions of the late Rev. Fr. Thomas Salve SJ trophy were the Warrior batch of 2017

with a 2-0 win through the penalty shoot-out.

The ceremony concluded on a heart-warming note leaving everyone with a deep sense of gratitude

towards the school, bringing together the Xavier’s community in a celebration of sportsmanship

and camaraderie.

Lots of memories of late Fr. Thomas Salve was shared by the Ex-students.

We thank God and the organisers for excellent coordination and execution of the plan.

May the spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork foster unity to full-fill the dreams of the late Rev.

Fr. Thomas Salve SJ.

Our mission is to make our students and ex-students grow in virtue and work.