While other localities hoist flags, Cox Town hosts a football tournament.

Fifty-nine successive years of the world’s favourite sport on east Bengaluru soil. Enthusiasm among spectators is such that they can be seen desperately grabbing seats on trees, walls and on Bengaluru East railway bridge to get the best view of the game. All this is an annual affair on Independence Day.

The Independence Day Cup football tournament final on August 15 is festive occasion for fans in Frazer Town and the rest of Bengaluru. Crowds throng the East Indian Sports Club ground on Moti Masjid Road to watch the game unfold. The roar of the fans surprises pedestrians and motorists passing near Everest cinema hall.

“I’m 42 years old and this is the 32ndyear I’m coming for the final. I used to come as a child to cheer the team wearing the jersey with the brightest colour. Now, I have come to support the home team — Camp Boys Cox Town,” says D.S. Raju, a grocery from MS Nagar. R. Giriraj (59), General Secretary of East Indian Sports Club, had played in the tournament four decades ago when the entry fee was only Rs. 5.

He describes the I-Day football tournament as a sensation among the locals. “Teams from all parts of Bengaluru, Mysuru and even Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh participate. Crowds throng the ground from around Bengaluru on August 15 to witness the two semi-finals and the grand final,” says Giriraj who doubled up as a referee for the ties on Saturday.

The club has been hosting the tournament since 1956. This year, there were 64 entries. Ambedkar Nehrupuram Football Club from Cox Town lifted the cup after a floodlit final game.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Petlee Peter / Bengaluru – August 16th, 2015