By Shreeya Chhabra, 9B and Anoushka Singh, 9B. Photos: Misba Shaikh, 9C

A number of Bollywood stars descended at the Global Indian International School’s East Coast campus on a Sunday morning for a pre-match practice session of the Magic Bus Charity soccer tournament to be held at the Jalan Besar Stadium later that day.

Bollywood soccer team, led by Abhishek Bachchan was a star-studded affair, which included big names like Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Dino Morea, television stars like Shabbir and Karthik Aaryan, former model Marc Robinson and many others. They were part of the game for the charity which provides financial support for the less privileged.

Students, dressed in school uniforms and house colours, went wild as the team arrived for the morning practice dressed in their football attire. Cheerleaders with pompoms greeted the team as they descended from the bus, while the stadium filled with teachers, students and a few parents screamed in ecstasy as their favourite stars waved out to them.

Team captain Abhishek Bachchan said he was thrilled to be at the East Coast grounds for the events, and said it was an honour to be invited for the event for such an important cause. The team members then indulged in an hour-long warm up session, bouncing the ball around the East Coast stadium, as the school children cheered on.

Talking to the EC Journalism club on the sidelines of the event, Ranbir Kapoor said that his passion for soccer dates back to his childhood. When asked why he chose soccer in a cricket crazed country, Mr Kapoor said soccer is a sleeping sport in India. “With government support, it is now gaining prominence,” he added.

Actor Karthik Aaryan also spoke to the Journalism Club sharing how he managed studies and sports while in school. “My whole family is inclined towards sports. I used to bunk classes to play sport,” he confessed candidly, but added that he does not recommend students do the same as both are equally important for the overall development of a student.

Captain Abhishek also told the Journalism students that “sports and academics hold the same importance in a student’s life”, adding: “Sports encouraged me, and gave me confidence, which later helped in my acting career.”

After the session ended, all the stars came up to the students lining the field and graciously posed for selfies, shook hands and gave autographs to students scrambling with their books and pens. An excited Saumyaa Desai of Class 9B, who was in the spectators' stand, said she enjoyed the event a lot. "This is the best opportunity the school has provided," she said.

Later in the afternoon, the team played the charity game against others from Singapore. The event was a star-studded affair which included the presence of India's High Commissioner to Singapore Mr Jawed Ashraf.