The Brotherhood Cup      by Fr Paul Miles

What a brilliant idea!  An inter-Catholic soccer carnival – at Salesian College, Chadstone!

          Previously, the Salesian seminarian students had arranged occasional social games with the Collingwood choir, Corpus Christi College and the Oblates. Now we would have a full-day carnival, hosting five teams vying for the inaugural, humungous, shiny Brotherhood Cup!

          Requiring 11 young, fit men, meant that some smaller ‘clubs’ would merge for the day. The Salesians combined their brightest and best with those of the Oblates. The Missionaries of God’s Love, Corpus Christi and Collingwood Choir (Cung Chieu Football Club) each had enough players to field their own teams. The big amalgamation was SVD/CssR/MSC/CP allowing each of these groups to become involved in this great gathering of young Catholics from around Melbourne. This latter united force would line up for the first whistle against Collingwood Choir, with MGL providing linesmen. First result: CFFC 1, the-team-with-the-long-name 0.

          The Salesians had waited patiently for round 2, to show what could be achieved with limited practice (in fact, with no practice at all!). There was no national anthem (how could you select from up to 10 anthems?) but as with the previous game, after the memorial team photos captured by Barry sdb, players lined up while the other team filed past, shaking hands with each of their respective (respected) opponents, CCC, captained by James Kerr (while Francine and Mick Kerr fired up the barbecue).

          The Salesians/Oblates agonised over a team name and ended up with none after abandoning as unbefitting - ‘SlObs’! The score: a draw, the first of four for the day.

          The sole referee, Greg, paced himself well. His task was more enduring than any player: 10 rounds plus the Grand!



          As team captain, coach, carnival co-ordinator and first goal-kicker for our team, Monthon sdb had the unenviable task of positioning the talent and deciding who would rotate as water-boys. Pati sdb, despite injuring his arm early in his career, saved enough goals to hurtle team SDB/OMI towards the top of the ladder.

          All teams gained points with at least a minimum of two draws. It would be fair to say that there is great enthusiasm for a 2010 carnival, with possibly more teams as, once the buzz was around town, a late application was unable to be accepted.


         
          After round 10, two teams remained undefeated, each coveting two draws and two wins. Yes the pressure was on for, you guessed it, Team SDB/OMI verses Cung Chieu FC! The Grand was a thriller, a delight for the crowd with the ball passing the goalies a total of eight times but fortune was with SDB/OMI bucketing six of them!

          The coveted Cup shares its time between the mantelpieces in the formation houses of the Oblates and the Salesians – in a wonderful spirit of Brotherhood!       #