With temperatures touching 31 degrees Celsius yesterday, the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) was forced to introduce two water breaks in each half of the girls' U-16 inter-school football Division I and Division II semi-finals, played at Cooperage.


Girls from Dhirubhai Ambani International School quench their thirst during the water break at Cooperage yesterday. Pic/Suresh KK 

According to MSSA regulations, half-time for each U-16 girls' match is after 25 minutes. However, with the heat getting unbearable yesterday MSSA football secretary Sebastian Fernandes instructed the referees to give the players four-minute breaks in each half after 15 minutes of play.