Kuwait Indian Football League
Kuwait Indian Football League
CURTORCARES DERAIL SANTOS UNITED 5-0, KERALA TEAMS SHARE SPOILS
Report by Gasper Crasto
Kuwait: Football dished out in Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) League for J.P. D’Mello Trophy is sometimes so unpredictable.
Players, coaches and teams plan and prepare to the best of their ability, they give their best at every training to make sure that they are top of their game, they spend many hours fueling their brain, going over tactics and set pieces, working on their confidence and motivating themselves and teammates.
When the time comes, players are ready! They feel good, ‘cause they have worked hard to get there and everything they have put in, will now be what they need to put out, to execute and deliver results, for their club.
They walk out onto the pitch (crossing their hearts as most are christians) and they give their all and make sure that they perform their task as best they can, fighting until the very end. No one wants to lose, no one wants to fail, the opposition doesn't want to fail either. They too have put in the hard work and valuable time to get positive results, they too have analyzed their opposition's strong points and will do whatever it takes to get that vital win.
But, as tough as it is, what we have to remember is that football after all, like any other sport, is a game. There has to be a winner and a loser, there will be a team that needs to handle defeat and a team that can celebrate victory.
No matter what the outcome, players need to continue with their head held high, continue to give their 100%, and continue to give their all to the sport as there will be another match, another tournament and another situation where they have to work hard to secure that victory and shine.
In matches played at Bayan Grounds Friday 30th October 2015, one result that shocked everyone was the defeat of hot favorites and former champions AVC-Kuwait at the hands of Skynet-Miracles FC.
AVC lost 0-2 with the first goal being a bit of an unexpected howler by their most prolific goalkeeper Martin Dias. Shine Marslain scored the other goal for the winners. Skynet-Miracles defence stood rock solid playing to a plan giving the seasoned AVC strikers little sniff of their goal.
AVC coach Francis Fernandes was left a player short after using all substitutions and none left to replace the injured players which ultimately affected the team in the last quarter of play. Also, his strategy of pumping fresh blood with 3 subs in one go did not pay off, perhaps it would in a more professional set-up.
Mashook P of Skynet was awarded man-of-the-match at the hands of Carmo Santos, president of Santos United.
NAVELIM RECORD FIRST WIN
Navelim YC coached by former 2 STC Signals-Goa player Manuel Dias recorded their first win beating YRC Rising Stars 1-0. The all-important goal came off the boots of young midfielder Mathew Fernandes.
Though the margin of victory was slender, YRC was no match for Navelim in overall play. Ramson, Christo, Maurice, Sandy, Simao, Pedro Araujo, Deigo and captain Duarte Ferrao excelled for the winners.
Referee Agnelo D’Cunha flashed 5 yellow cards in the match, YRC’s budding footballer Cheslee D’Souza narrowly escaped a red for a ‘professional hacking’.
Man of the Match Mathew Fernandes was awarded at the hands of YRC Rising Stars president Lawry Pinto.
CURTORCARES UNITED DERAIL SANTOS UNITED 5-0
In a one-sided match, strong contenders Curtorcares United derailed Santos United 5-0. Former Salgaocars-East Bengal-Churchill player Bernard Pires scored a hattrick for Curtorcares which included 1 penalty. Curtorcares livewire Bonny Niasso scored the other 2 goals.
However, despite winning by a huge margin, Curtorcares warranted the wrath of 2 yellow cards with star player Bernard Pires and Shavad going into the books. Santos were disciplined in defeat allowing no yellow cards.
Bernard Pires was later adjudged Man-of-the-match; Curtorcares president Amaldo Fernandes presented the award.
KERALITES SHARE SPOILS 1-1
It is always a treat to watch 2 Kerala sides playing each other. Their games capture a lot of interest. The match between Soccer Kerala and Kerala Challengers saw ref Bernard Fernandes flashing as many as 7 cards including red cards to Domnic Anthony (Soccer Kerala) and Mustafa (Kerala Challengers).
The match ended 1-1 apiece.
Sebastian Thobias scored for Soccer Kerala, while Jamsheel equalised for Kerala Challengers during injury time in the second-half to keep their qualifying hopes alive.
Prince Puthussery of Soccer Kerala was voted man of the match.
REFEREES AND PARTICIPATING TEAMS
KIFF matches are officiated by KIFF-referees.
The matches for the day were officiated by Bernard Fernandes, Rosario, Agnelo D’Cunha assisted by Robert Bernard, Romeo, Rego and Sameer. It is pitiful to note that a federation consisting of 16 clubs and numerous players has no support for officiating matches so much so that centre-referee Bernard Fernandes was forced to officiate 2 matches while other familiar faces were rolled on as assistants throughout the day.
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 League Fixtures for 6th November 2015; Venue: Bayan Grounds
Match 1: Malabar v/s Indian Strikers - 06.45 am
Match 2: Goa Maroons v/s KGA Nagao Verna - 08.00 am
Match 3: F. C. Sparx v/s United Goans - 09.00 am
Match 4: Don Bosco v/s DHL F. C - 10.00 am
