It started as a way to pay tribute to a former friend and teammate to recognize his passion for football.
Ten years later, the Rally Rai Memorial Touch Football Tournament has evolved into Richmond’s gridiron version of the Dolphin Basketball Classic.
It was back in 2005 when Rally Rai tragically lost his life. He was a two-sport standout at Richmond High where he helped the Colts twice win provincial football and basketball championships in the late 1990s.
A year after his passing, former Colt star running back Eshan Sharenjad, a teammate of Rai dating back to their days playing junior varsity at RC Palmer, wanted to do something in memory of his longtime friend.
A touch football tournament was organized that would also serve as a fundraiser for a bursary named after Rai.
Since then, the event has gained plenty of momentum.
Just like the Dolphin Classic, the tournament is attracting many of the top touch football players in the Lower Mainland.
Adding to the atmosphere at King George Park last weekend was a full concession in operation, along with merchandise and 50/50 tickets. The scheduled festivities included a social at Legend’s Pub with all proceeds going to the Rai Bursary. It is annually awarded to a student athlete at Langara where Rally attended.
“It is a memorial tournament to celebrate my brother’s life and his love for competitiveness in football,” said Herbie Rai who works with Sharenjad organizing the event. “Since Rally went to Langara, we started the memorial scholarship there and student athletes have to write an essay and a winner is picked each year.
“I play touch football in the top flight of the Lower Mainland league. A lot of those teams are now part of the tournament. The level of competition is very, very good and my brother wouldn’t have want it any other way.”
“It’s a great weekend of football.”
