By Alok S, Team Mangalorean

Mangalore: The Karnataka State Cricket Association(KSCA) Mangalore Zone held the prize distribution ceremony for the winners of the KSCA League 2011 at the Mangalore Club near Morgansgate here on Tuesday June 26. 

The KSCA Mangalore Zone re-opened the KSCA league after a gap of three years. A total of twelve teams affliated to the KSCA took part in the tournament. City Cricketers faced DKCA in the final match, where City Cricketers emerged as winners.

Speaking on the occasion Chairman of KSCA Mangalore Zone Dayanand Pai promised encouragement and sponsorship in the form of scholarships. "Having a full fledged stadium for cricket in Mangalore is the need of the hour. The Nitte Educational Trust has come forward to provide land for the same. The heights that the district has climbed in the fields of the banking, education and healthcare will now also be seen in the game of Cricket after efforts have been made"

Ex- Ranji Player and KSCA Coordinator A V Shasidhar speaking on the occasion emphasized that lack of the infrastructure required for the game."If Mangalore players are sponsored, we can see that they play in matches held in Bangalore." He said that the KSCA for the first time was giving away 27 lakh as prize money for tournaments in six zones in the state excluding Bangalore. He also said that the Association is planning to conduct Inter-College tournaments followed by Inter-School with intention to capture young talents at their early stages.

KSCA Mangalore zone convenor Dr Srikant Rai welcomed the gathering.

Tournament Committee Chairperson Jugul Saldanha read out a report of activities held by the zone in the last two years.

Dr Anand Venugopal delivered a vote of thanks.

Devdas Rai compered the programme.

Mohandas Bhandary, Arun Shetty, Mahabal Marla, Shivaram Balakrishna, Devdas Shetty, Balakrishna Parkala, Harish Gowda, Balakrishna Pai ,and cricket players of the Mangalore Zone of KSCA were also present.