Top guns from the city, including internationals like Yuvraj Walmiki, Vikram Pillay, Adrian D’Souza, Amit Gowda, Vikas Pillay and Girish Pimpale will be playing the lead roles to inspire their respective teams and provide all the excitement, when the inaugural edition of the eagerly-awaited MRHL (Mumbai Rink Hockey League), commences under floodlights at the Malad Gymkhana on Tuesday evening.
However, the star attraction on the opening evening will be Caralisa Monteiro, a recording artist, singer-songwriter and Bollywood playback singer, who will grace the opening ceremony. She along with Olympians Anil Aldrin and Adrian D’Souza will sing the National Anthem.
Hockey action will later begin with Wadala Wanderers and Poisar Pirates having the privilege of playing the opening match, at 7.30 pm. The other two fixtures on day one will be contested between Jabaaz Almedians and Mumbai Phantoms and later in the evening between UK United and Orlem Vikings.
This first-ever franchise-based hockey league, which offers a total prize-money pool of Rs 2.5 lakhs, is the brainchild of former Indian stalwarts Gavin Ferreira and Cornelius D’Costa.
The six teams have been divided into two pool and the initial rounds will be played on a unique, but interesting format, unlike the round-robin basis. Wadala Wanderers, Jabaaz Almedians and UK United have been drawn in Pool-A, while Pool-B consists of Poisar Pirates, Mumbai Phantoms and Orlem Vikings.
The Pool-A teams play against the Pool-B teams and the top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals. The first semi-final round will be played between the first and second team in Pool-A and the second semi-final will be a clash between the first and second teams in Pool-B.
The grand finale is scheduled to be played on Saturday, December 5.