The Federation of Jesuit Alumni Associations of India (JAAI) First Inter zonal Alumni Football matches-20^th December 2021, played at St. Xavier College, Thumba, Thiruvanandapuram Kerala

 The Jesuit Alumni Association Governing Council Meet held on 20^th November 2022 at Surat paved the way for opening up of JAAI Sports vertical. In consonance with the JAAI Sports verticals JAAI Football sub verticals was initiated. The JAAI GC authorized the conduct of the first JAAI Alumni Inter Zonal football match under its ageis on 20^thDec 2022 at St. Xavier College,Thumba, Thiruvanandapuram Kerala. On 20th Dec 2022 five alumni teams participated in the friendly match namely

1. St. Xavier College AlumniThumba .
2. Loyala College Thiruvanandapuram.
3.  Loyola School Thiruvanandapuram.
4. JAAT Association of Jesuit alumni from the Madurai province and Chennai province. The JAAT had two teams Team A and Team B.

The JAAI football match was inaugurated by Mr. Bijesh Ben an illustrious Jesuit Alumnus from St. Xavier College, Thumba who was the captain of the Santhosh Trophy winning Kerala team in 2011. The program started by lighting the lamp by Mr. Bijesh Ben followed by Rev.Fr.Jose Mathew SJ (Province Coordinator for Alumni PCA for Kerala and Rector &Manager of St. XavierCollege, Thumba and Rev.Fr.Dasappan SJ  Principal St. Xavier College Thumba CAS.Chenthil Kumar President of Jesuit Alumni of India (JAAI) and Neel Mani RangeshJAAI Secretary

Mr.Bijesh Ben donated the footballs for these matches and the footballs were later handed over after the matches to the nearby community to encourage the youngsters to pursue their interest  in football  games. The kick offin the football ground was made by Mr.Bijesh Ben The  alumni football match event on 20^th December 2022 was sponsored byMr.Shanmugam of KPS Builders our illustrious Jesuit alumnus from St. Mary’s Hr.Sec.School,Dindigul.The four matches were played on knock out basis by the following five teams

a)St. Xavier College Alumni Thumba,

b)Loyala College ThiruvanandapuramAlumni,

c)Loyala School ThiruvanandapuramAlumni,

d)Tamil Nadu Jesuit Alumni Team A & B (2 Teams)

The program started at 10A.M in the morning on 20^th December 2022 and the finals were played in the evening.

The JAAT had two teams A & B comprising of more than 24 players.BothSt.Xavier’s, Thumba and JAAT team had veterans of Santhosh Trophy Kerala team football players like Suresh Kumar,Martin John,Cleetus Joosa and  from the JAAT Team(Dindugal) Ruban Santhosh

In the evening Honorable V.Sasi MLA, Thumba graced the occasion and handed over the footballs to the local community of Thumba.

It was also proposed to have a series of friendly football Inter Zonal matches throughout India on rotational basis at frequent intervals.

The winners were St. Xavier College, Thumba and the runners up was JAAT B Team (Madurai province) and the third prize was won by JAAT A Team Consolation awards were given to Loyola School Thiruvanandapuram and Loyola College Thiruvanandapuram

Best Goalkeeper award was given to  Jerald from JAAT Team

Best all around player award was given to  Cleetus  of St.Xavier’s College, Thumba

Best player award was given to  Prasanth  of St.Xavier’s College, Thumba

 The prize distribution was made by Neel Mani Secretary of JAAI along with S.ChenthilKumar , President JAAI  and Rev. Fr.Jose  Mathew SJ,PCA for Kerala. All players were given mementoes and certificates by S.ChenthilKumar President JAAI and Neel Mani Secretary JAAI

This friendly football match were locally organized by Jesuit Alumni Association of Kerala(JAAK) , St. Xavier’s College Alumni Association,Thumba and was supported by JAAT football organizing team lead by Mr.Shanmugam of KPS Builders Dindigul and the alumni of St. Mary’s Dindigul ably supported by Rev.Fr.Aruldass Director Alumni Association of St. Mary’s Dindigul and Mr.Damien physical director of St. Mary’s and Rev.Fr.RichardBabumon, Mr.Maheshwaran& others from St. Mary’s Hr.Sec.School Alumni Association.

St.Aloysuis College Alumni Association (SACAA) sponsored the St.Aloysuis College football team who travelled from Mangalore to Thumba to participate in the Inter-University football match hosted in St.Xavier’s College Thumba.

The JAAI representative  in World Union of Jesuit Alumni(WUJA)Mr.Pradeep Kumar Madhavan , Antony Thomas (General  convener of football event ),Christhu Das Mathew President of St. Xavier’s College Alumni Association , Thumba  along with the management of St. Xavier’s College, Thumba represented by Rev.Fr.Jose Mathew SJ Rector and Manager  and Rev.Fr.Dasappan ,Principal and Alex Xavier ,Physical Director had made elaborate arrangements for the football  matches .

Everyone recalled with thanks the sponsorship from Shanmugam, KPS Builders Dindigul and the Jesuit Alumni resolved to take forward to  leverage the sports infra-structure  in our Jesuiteducational Institutions to form Sports Academy and introduce and nurture sports related curriculum in Jesuit educational Institutions  as legacy to the next generation.