However, the enthusiasm was not just spread on the kids faces but their proud parents were also beaming with pride. They had come in large numbers, missing work for few hours to be a part of their childrens’ sporting endeavours. As a parent from Stanislaus School put in, “I feel more than the kids, it is the parents who want to win.”

As the match started on Wednesday, the children were playing to the referee’s whistle and to their parents’ instructions. The seniors all came loaded with bottles of sugarcane juice and wet towels to sooth their wards tired limbs from the scorching evening sun.

If not issuing instructions like ‘go for the ball’ or ‘fall back’, they were ready do anything for the kids. Some even ran in as a doctor or tied their kids laces from the sidelines. Parents like Neha Khemlani was seen running along the sidelines to keep up with the ball and her son.