Kuwait Indian Football League
Lloyd Mascarenhas scores Hattrick for Don Bosco
15 GOALS SCORED IN 4 MATCHES : KUWAIT INDIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Report by Gasper Crasto
Kuwait: Everyone knows that football games are decided by goals. However, players know how difficult it is to score. The entire game revolves around one team trying to put the ball in the net while the other tries to stop them.
In the JP D’Mello KIFF League matches played at Bayan Grounds Friday 23rd October 2015, as many as 15 goals were scored in 4 matches.
First match of the day, KGA-Nagoa Verna beat fancied FC Sparx 2-1. Brazelio Rego and former Dempo-Salgaocar war-horse Tiago Fernandes scored for KGA-Nagoa. FC Sparx consisting of some budding footballers threatened to turn the tables around with brothers Hussain and Ahmed trying their hearts out in midfield, however, experience and skill helped KGA see them through.
Sparx’ goal came through the boots of Jamnas.
KGA’s John Costa and Sparx’ Praveen Kumar and Shameet Cheriyan were flashed yellows by referee Rosario.
KGA-Nagoa’s Brazelio Rego was adjudged man-of-the-match, awarded at the hands of Sajan Pappachan, President of Soccer Kerala.
DON BOSCO BEAT UNITED GOANS 3-1
Don Bosco Oratory’s most consistent for the last several seasons – Lloyd Mascarenhas scored a hattrick to beat once formidable United Goans Centre 3-1.
United Goans dished out an improved performance and matched their famed opponents to some extent, but absence of quality strikers and lack of concentration in the last quarter of play let them down.
Usually, in a feat of scoring 3 out of 3 goals for the team, players are unanimously chosen best players of the game. However, in this particular game, the man-of-the-match selected by the panel of KIFF judges was Don Bosco’s midfielder Allwyn Mendes who assisted in many of the moves for Lloyd’s hattrick.
Allwyn was awarded at the hands of Rajith Kumar, President of FC Sparx.
Bernard Fernandes officiated the match assisted by Rosario and Sameer.
DHL BEAT INDIAN STRIKERS 2-0.
The match between DHL and Indian Strikers was tarnished by more incidents off field than on it.
According to onlookers, players and supporters of either teams nearly came to blows outside the grounds long after the match was over. Allegedly, the dispute sparked when 2 players collided during the match for a 50-50 aerial ball which ended up in a Indian Strikers player being knocked down with a bleeding nose and taken away to hospital.
DHL were more clinical in their approach and scored in the second session off a free-kick by Vico D’Souza. They increased the lead through Nisar. Indian Strikers were bereft of ideas to produce a comeback.
Vico was later declared man-of-the-match, awarded at the hands of visiting priest Rev. Fr. Alexander Fernandes.
GOA MAROONS BEAT MALABAR UNITED 4-2
Goa Maroons showed flashes of their historical existence when they came from behind (1-2) to score a thrilling 4-2 victory over Malabar United.
Rahul Ravi had given a lead to Malabar United and they seemed to have the match in their grasp when referee Jerry Mello awarded them with a penalty kick for what seemed to be an ‘unintentional’ handball for Maroons defender Gabriel. However, Maroons goalkeeper Anthony easily saved the spot-kick diving to his right.
Thereafter, some much desired changes by young Maroons’ coach Derrick Gomindes, who also happens to be the KIFF President, turned Maroons into the Champions they once had been. They started functioning like a well-oiled machine with moves initiated right from their deep defence by James Figuiera and star player Steven Correia while Jefferey, Steven Rodrigues and Zelito Cardozo showed terrific speed, ball control and stamina to clinch quick goals for Maroons.
Jefferey Sequiera (2 goals), Steven Rodrigues and Anthony Xavier scored for the winners. Apart from Rahul Ravi, the other goal Malabar scored was a self goal.
Jefferey Sequiera was awarded man-of-the-match by Nazi Azavedo, SFX Club Founder Member.
KIFF LEAGUE PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) League, perhaps the only overseas Indian league, consists of 16 teams divided into 2 groups playing in a round-robin league. Top 4 teams from each group will qualify for the knockout phase of the league.
The participating clubs for the season are Goan Overseas Association, United Goans Centre, YRC Rising Stars, Navelim Youth Centre, Curtorcares United, Kuwait Goans Association-Nagoa Verna, FC Sparx, Indian Strikers FC, DHL Football Club, AVC Overseas Sports and Cultural Association, Skynet-Miracles SC, Santos United, Don Bosco Oratory, Malabar United FC, Soccer Kerala and Kerala Challengers.
KIFF matches for the season are being officiated by KIFF referees.
KIFF League Fixtures for 30th October 2015; Venue: Bayan Grounds
First Match - 06:45am : YRC Rising Stars v/s Navelim Youth Centre
Second Match - 08:00am : Kerala Challengers v/s Soccer Kerala
Third Match - 09:00am : AVC v/s Skynet Miracles FC
Fourth Match – 10:00am : Curtorcares United v/s Santos United
