Boys' House Football 2025/26 - The winners, losers, stars, and underdogs!
By Mohnish Kripalani & Arnav Ahuja
House football is an annual spectacle that brings students together for a spirited display of teamwork, rivalry, and House pride. This year's tournament saw every team face off in a round-robin format featuring underdogs, upsets, and wholesome moments. It was a series of thrilling matchups where players showcased their skills and competitive drive.
The Stars of the Tournament Many players brought immense value to their teams this year. Special mentions go to the following key players:
Qing: Milo O'Neill, Arnav Ahuja, and Leo O'Neill.
Ming: Matteo Croce, Vivaan Heera, and Daniel Wong.
Song: Quinlan Mak, Chun Yat Lee, and Alex Cox.
Tang: Dwight Wong, Kelly Megan, and Mohnish Kripalani.
Top Scorers The tournament’s most lethal finishers—and arguably the most exciting players to watch—were:
Milo: 3 goals
Mohnish: 2 goals
Arnav: 2 goals
Matteo: 2 goals
Chun Yat: 2 goals
These players provided the best plays of the games, making the tournament a joy for the audience!
Tournament Overview In the 2025 House Football tournament, Ming entered as underdogs with many doubting their chances. Yet, they rose to the top and claimed first place, serving as a perfect example of resilience. Tang was considered one of the best teams on paper, but unfortunately, due to a lack of communication, they did not finish as high as they had hoped. Qing remained a top contender throughout but let the game slip away at the very end due to some bad luck. As for Song, despite their best efforts, it simply wasn’t their year.
Match Reports
Match 1: Qing vs. Ming This opening match, which ended in a draw, was a battle of skill versus grit. Qing was expected to be the better side, boasting solid players in nearly every position. However, Ming relied heavily on their defense, anchored by Matteo, and the goalkeeping skills of Vivaan. They pushed hard enough to earn a solid 1-1 draw against the favorites.
Match 2: Song vs. Tang Tang pulled off an upset against Song through superior teamwork and a solid game plan, despite having much smaller and younger players compared to the opposition. Song just couldn't get a solid start; they narrowly lost by failing to find the back of the net after conceding an early goal.
Match 3: Qing vs. Tang The leaders, Tang, went head-to-head with the favorites, Qing. Initially, Qing exposed Tang's lack of size and experience, delivering a statement performance. However, the game turned when Tang subbed in their star player, Dwight. He produced a masterful dribble past the Qing defense and assisted a tap-in for Mohnish, who scored a last-minute equalizer to end the game in a 1-1 draw.
Match 4: Ming vs. Song Much like Match 3, Ming came out on top thanks to a solid defensive display from Matteo, who sealed the victory with a last-minute winner after carrying the backline all game. Additionally, Ming did an incredible job of keeping possession through teamwork and vision. Song showed improvement despite the loss; it just wasn’t their day in terms of finishing, despite excellent passes and dribbles from their Year 11 playmaker, Chun Yat.
Match 5: Tang vs. Song Note: This was a fierce rematch. The game started with Song taking the lead in the first half. Tang, refusing to accept defeat, kept fighting to seek a draw, with Mohnish executing very good pressing. However, in the end, Tang could not find the equalizer.
Match 6: Tang vs. Ming The game was very one-sided in favor of Ming House, though they initially struggled to find a goal. The breakthrough came in an unfortunate manner when Tang conceded an own goal via Navin Kidangan John. While playing vigorous defense, he accidentally chipped the ball into his own net. Despite the bad luck, many jokingly hailed him as the "Man of the Match" for the entertainment value!
Match 7: Song vs. Qing This match was dominated by Qing, who created numerous chances. In the end, they converted two excellent goals through Milo and Arnav. Leo provided the assists for both strikes, capping off a dominant performance.
Final Standings:
1st Place: Ming Ming finished first primarily through their superior game plan, defense, and teamwork. Their backline, with Matteo paired with Vivaan in goal, made it nearly impossible to score against them.
2nd Place: Qing Despite being the favorites, Qing narrowly lost the title. If not for a last-minute equalizer in their match against Tang, they might have won the tournament via goal difference, especially after their massive 2-0 win against Song.
3rd Place: Tang Tang had a solid tournament but missed out on second place due to goal difference. Their game plan allowed for success in attack, but their defense wasn’t as solid as Ming or Qing due to a lack of physical strength and size in the squad.
4th Place: Song Song finished last, largely due to an injury to one of their key playmakers, Quinlan Mak, which severely affected their passing and team chemistry. They were also rather unlucky in front of goal, missing numerous key chances. Despite this, Song showed great character and ensured their games remained competitive and fun.
Stay tuned for coverage of the Girls' House Football tournament and the penalty shootout — coming later this academic year!
Arnav and Mohnish signing off