Traditional warm up for the MCC-Murguappa Gold Cup

This is how the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup starts traditionally. A day before the main event starts, a match between The Hindu XI and MCC XI, play their heart out.
The glorious tradition was kept up this year as well.

Today, the start could not have been more auspicious as it is Vinayagar Chaturti – celebration of the Lord who removes all obstacles.

Let us hope He blesses Indian hockey whose season starts with this competition.

Today was the opener with The Hindu playing The MCC got under way under floodlights.

Ageless B.P. Govinda (he played the match full time without showing any strains) and Vasudevan Baskaran turned up for the MCC side. Another Olympian of repute, the hardworking medio Mohammed Riyaz, too joined the duo. The trio showed the ‘class’ as does wine when casked!

1975 World Cup hero Govinda played the full 70 minutes and scored a goal in the 1st half itself showing a clean pair of heels to the youngsters who thought they had his measure.

With Baskaran manning the defence – he came for the match after usual tee with golf in the morning — Riaz in the midfield, the enthusiastic Hindu team could not do much.

The veterans led by 4 goals to nil at one stage in the first half. A sort of fight was put up (4-2) by the paper side as half time neared.

Youthful enthusiasm of the Hindu came in full flow in the second half, where another two goals led to the match end in an exciting draw.

That everything is a serious business, was exemplified by the passion with which the exhibition match was played.

Probably national team players can pick up a thing or two from them!

For the record, for MCC the scorers were Govinda, Abhay, Gauthamand Bopanna. Ashraf scored a brace for The Hindu, with Porucheriyan and Raja chipping in a goal apiece.

Tomorrow, it will be time for serious business as IOC take on IOB before Air India locks horns with Army XI.

As prestigious as the 84th edition gets underway, one cannot but admire the passion with which the Murugappa group, known for their BSA Cyles and Parry chocolates & candies, are quietly going about promoting hockey with the Madras Cricket Club.