Machamada Cup 2011: Lady luck eludes Kaliyanda clan
Lady luck eluded the Kaliyanda clan on a day when they lost the ‘Machamada Cup 2011’ to Palanganda clan by a solitary goal on Sunday at Ponnampet Junior College Grounds in Kodagu district of Karnataka.
Though the Kaliyanda players dominated the finals of the prestigious Kodava family hockey festival this year, they failed to convert 14 penalty corners. The lone goal was scored by the young Palanganda Muthanna in the first half.
Despite the fact that the crowd cheered for the Kaliyanda boys, the 15th edition of the hockey festival in which 228 Kodava families had participated, they had to suffer defeat at the hands of the Palanganda clan, the defending champions who had lifted the ‘Maneyapanda 2010 Cup’ last year.
The Ponnampet Ground proved to be lucky for the Palanganda clan which has tasted victory at the venue thrice, including the ‘Kallichanda Cup’.
Though the mercurial international player Palanganda Amar Aiyamma failed to perform as expected by the crowds in the finals, he walked away (rather sped away on a motorcycle presented to him by the TVS Group) after he was adjudged the player of the Machamada Cup tournament.
The Cheppudira family team defeated the Koothanda team by 3-2 goals in the tie-breaker to clinch the third place on Saturday.
The Machamada clan, the hosts, should be complimented for putting up a cultural programme involving Kodava folk dancers before the start of the match. The commencement of the closing ceremony was delayed by 15 minutes, making the crowds restless.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who was scheduled to be the chief guest, failed to show up because of the political developments in Bangalore.
The next edition of the family hockey festival will be hosted by the Iychettira family at Ammathi in 2012.
Picture above: courtesy Poomaale Kodava Weekly
