5th edition of Eslinda Alemao Memorial Football Tournament
AVC inscribed their name on the 5th edition of Eslinda Alemao Memorial 7 a-side football tournament held at MOH Grounds. The daylong tournament organized by Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) under the presidentship of Salvador Dias during the Eid holidays in Kuwait. In all 16 teams affiliated to Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) participated in the tournament. Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) officiated the matches professionally. Merwin Franco of Gulf Cable Electrical Industries Co was the chief guest on the occasion, and was accompanied by his wife. The guest of honour, Rising Stars President Lawrence Pinto. Earlier, the guests and other dignitaries were welcomed and presented with bouquets of flowers by Olesya Dias and Sinatra Dias.
The tournament matches had all the football features and tactical showmanship; and the players did their best to progress well throughout. At the semi-final stage, the four teams who aspired for the coveted KGA trophy were Santos United, Goa Maroons, AVC and Curtorcares United. AVC comprising of budding youngsters stormed into the final beating seasoned teams on their way while Curtorcares United, with a cream of stellar footballers in their ranks played excellent football all throughout the tournament. AVC overcame a stiff challenge from Curtorcares United in the tie-breaker after the teams were locked goalless during normal time. AVC flew into a frenzy of jubilations after their goalkeeper Martin Dias saved a penalty in sudden-death to clinch victory. Before the start of the finals, Unique Freaks - a dance troupe from Farwaniya comprising of 5 dynamic members, performed a dance sequence to great applause of the crowd. Whilst congratulating the winners, and thanking the participating teams, guests and sponsors, KGA President Salvador Dias expressed his gratitude and appreciation to their team sponsor Churchill Brothers, also echoed by KGA officials and players.
The Tournament was sponsored by Gulf Cable Electrical Industries Co. (Chairman & Managing Director Bader Naser Al-Kharafi), Air India, Bhasin Co., Dana Optics, Lipton, Mughal Mahal Restaurants, Fitwell Tailor, Al-Mailem Group of Companies, Al-Sallal Intl Group Co., Kitco, CocaCola, Jaclin’s Beauty Saloon & Spa, Red Sea Education, Lulu HyperMarket, Almaria Co., Hamad Al Muller Trading Co., Fastelco, etc. In a special note, KGA President thanked Anna Pereira, Luis Lopes, Olive Saldanha, B.M. Viegas (KGA), Michael Fernandes (Tanagra), Pascoal Fernandes, Edward Dias, Sydney Menezes, Tony Barbosa, Benjamin Pereira (Jimmy), Kenneth Fernandes, Albert Pinto, Agnelo Borges, Domnic Fernandes, Domnic Pereira (KIFF Asst. Sports Secretary), Velito Fernandes, Joseph Mergulao, Gaspar Almeida, Midas Fernandes (SME Cargo), among other well-wishers for making the tournament a grand success. Following prizes were awarded at the presentation ceremony: Best Disciplined Team – Santos United; Best Goalkeeper – Martin Dias (AVC); Best Midfielder – Martin Gomes (Curtorcares United); Best Defender – Francis Rodrigues (AVC); Best Striker – Braulio Rodrigues (AVC); Man of the Match (Finals) – Martin Dias (AVC); Oldest Player – Teddy Pinto (Real Betalbatim FC);Prizes were also awarded to the semi-finalists Goa Maroons and Santos United apart from trophies and individual prizes to the Winners and Runners-up and also to IFRA Referees.
The prizes were presented at the hands of Ana Pereira, Brenda Fernandes, Anthony Rebello (Ex-Salgaocar), Vasudev Amoncar, Fidelis Fernandes (KIFF President), Tony Barbosa, Cajetan de Sanvordem (UFC), Tony Dias, Lawrence Pinto,, Luis Lopes, Olive Saldanha (Red Sea Education), Merwin Franco, etc. Versatile Penny Rebello, who is also a football referee, compered the entire proceedings. The housie prize was won by Mira Pereira while Jose Barbosa won the full-house claiming the Kuwait-Goa-Kuwait air-ticket, sponsored by Air India. In a special message, KGA President Salvador Dias thanked all the participating teams, IFRA Referees, KIFF Managing Committee, MOH ground staff, KGA members and supporters. He conveyed his profound thanks to the editors of Arab Times, Kuwait times, The Times, online portals and e-newsletters www.goa-world.com, indiansinkuwait.com, q8india.com, canaraworld.com, DJ Cheslee, Gaspar Almeida and Rewon Gomes (photographer) for the media coverage.
The Tournament was sponsored by Gulf Cable Electrical Industries Co. (Chairman & Managing Director Bader Naser Al-Kharafi), Air India, Bhasin Co., Dana Optics, Lipton, Mughal Mahal Restaurants, Fitwell Tailor, Al-Mailem Group of Companies, Al-Sallal Intl Group Co., Kitco, CocaCola, Jaclin’s Beauty Saloon & Spa, Red Sea Education, Lulu HyperMarket, Almaria Co., Hamad Al Muller Trading Co., Fastelco, etc. In a special note, KGA President thanked Anna Pereira, Luis Lopes, Olive Saldanha, B.M. Viegas (KGA), Michael Fernandes (Tanagra), Pascoal Fernandes, Edward Dias, Sydney Menezes, Tony Barbosa, Benjamin Pereira (Jimmy), Kenneth Fernandes, Albert Pinto, Agnelo Borges, Domnic Fernandes, Domnic Pereira (KIFF Asst. Sports Secretary), Velito Fernandes, Joseph Mergulao, Gaspar Almeida, Midas Fernandes (SME Cargo), among other well-wishers for making the tournament a grand success. Following prizes were awarded at the presentation ceremony: Best Disciplined Team – Santos United; Best Goalkeeper – Martin Dias (AVC); Best Midfielder – Martin Gomes (Curtorcares United); Best Defender – Francis Rodrigues (AVC); Best Striker – Braulio Rodrigues (AVC); Man of the Match (Finals) – Martin Dias (AVC); Oldest Player – Teddy Pinto (Real Betalbatim FC);Prizes were also awarded to the semi-finalists Goa Maroons and Santos United apart from trophies and individual prizes to the Winners and Runners-up and also to IFRA Referees.
The prizes were presented at the hands of Ana Pereira, Brenda Fernandes, Anthony Rebello (Ex-Salgaocar), Vasudev Amoncar, Fidelis Fernandes (KIFF President), Tony Barbosa, Cajetan de Sanvordem (UFC), Tony Dias, Lawrence Pinto,, Luis Lopes, Olive Saldanha (Red Sea Education), Merwin Franco, etc. Versatile Penny Rebello, who is also a football referee, compered the entire proceedings. The housie prize was won by Mira Pereira while Jose Barbosa won the full-house claiming the Kuwait-Goa-Kuwait air-ticket, sponsored by Air India. In a special message, KGA President Salvador Dias thanked all the participating teams, IFRA Referees, KIFF Managing Committee, MOH ground staff, KGA members and supporters. He conveyed his profound thanks to the editors of Arab Times, Kuwait times, The Times, online portals and e-newsletters www.goa-world.com, indiansinkuwait.com, q8india.com, canaraworld.com, DJ Cheslee, Gaspar Almeida and Rewon Gomes (photographer) for the media coverage.
-Report by Gasper Crasto; Photos by: Rewon Gomes;
Additional input by Gaspar Almeida
- Photos by: Rewon Gomes.
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