By Daragh Mangan
Kindergarten Teacher
Kindergarten and Grade 1 Leader
Last week, our second annual NISC Cup kicked off, with four schools and over one hundred students facing off to see who would be taking home the silverware on offer in separate boys’ and girls’ competitions. Last year CIA girls’ team won a thrilling final and were hoping that the cup would be returning to their school for a second year in a row, while our own NISC boys’ team were hoping to retain their hard won 2023 title.
This year’s tournament was extended over two days to allow for more fixtures, as well as for schools to have the option of entering multiple teams. By Saturday morning, it became clear that the girls’ tournament would be won by either Hope International School or NISC, after a 0-0 draw on Friday meant that both teams went into the final day of the tournament undefeated. It all came down to a final nerve-wracking match, which saw some spectacular displays of last ditch defending and amazing commitment by both sets of players. Ultimately, it took a single moment of brilliance—a sublime free kick from NISC was all that separated the two teams, and the game ended with a 1-0 victory for the Nagas, giving them their first girls’ title in the NISC Cup.
The boys’ tournament delivered a final every bit as dramatic, though it ended in heartbreak for the hosts. NISC and CIA, the two dominant teams of the group stages, faced off in a repeat of last year’s boys’ final. It was CIA who found the breakthrough; a speculative effort from long range that found its way past the NISC keeper and into the back of the net. Despite a relentless onslaught from the hosts, an equalizer never came, and the boys’ trophy will be spending the year in CIA’s cabinet for the first time.
For the home teams, it was a bittersweet end to an amazing tournament. Triumph for the girls, heartbreak for the boys. While some of our young athletes were hugely disappointed not to win, they showed amazing resolve in the face of adversity, and grace in the face of defeat. They made their school community proud in the way they handled their loss, and we know that our primary boys’ team will bounce back next year better and stronger than ever.
For some of our players and teachers, the end of the NISC Cup did not mean the end of their eventful weekend. Seventeen of our young Naga’s boarded a bus on Saturday afternoon and headed to Siem Reap. After a short sleep in a hotel, they woke up at 4am on Sunday and set off into the early morning light in order to participate in the 29th Angkor Wat International Half Marathon. NISC students participated in the 3km event, and all of our athletes managed to finish the run, despite the fact that they had just wrapped up two days of grueling competitive football.
The weekend underscored the real value of sport at NISC. It isn’t about winning matches or finishing races in record time. It is about building a sense of community, forging lifelong friendships, and learning how to care for and support each other in the face of challenges and adversity. While our football season may be over, our tee-ball season is just beginning, so watch this space!
