Former star footballers for intra-Gulf Goan tournament Staff Reporter
AT least half-a-dozen former Indian footballers will be seen in action in the first ever nine-a-side Intra-Gulf Goans invitation football tournament, organised by the Goan Welfare Association at Al Ahli Stadium on October 31.
Announcing this yesterday, the forum president Simon D'Silva said 10 teams will be vying for honours at the day-long tournament starting at 8am.
The forum chief said three teams from the UAE, two teams each from Bahrain and Kuwait and two teams from hosts Qatar will be seen in action.
The Goan Welfare Association official said Goa Veterans, a team comprising former international and national players from Goa, is being flown in from the western Indian state to add glamour to the event.
Former India captain Bruno Coutinho will be accompanying the veterans' team from Goa, he said. Coutinho is the only second Goan player after former Indian goalkeeper Brahmanand Shanwalkar to win the prestigious Arjuna Award.
Apart from Coutinho, at least five other Indian internationals are arriving for the day-long event.
Camilo Gonsalves, now assistant coach at Goa's Dempo Sports Club, goalkeeper Chandrakant Naik, midfielder Lawrence Gomes and Savio Maderira are among other prominent players arriving for the tournament.
Naik, who had served top Goan clubs like Dempo Sports Club and Salgaocar Sports Club, continues to have a role in the Goan inter-village football tournaments. Madeira is still active in coaching circuit in Kolkata.
D'Silva said that it was owing to a busy schedule that Goa's first Arjuna Award winner and former India captain - goalkeeper Brahmanand Shanwalkar had dropped out of the Goa Veterans team.
Shanwalkar is presently the technical director of the Sesa Football Academy, a professional team taking part in the ongoing Goa Professional League.
Former International and Tata Football Academy product Flaviano Leitao who holds the distinction of being the first trainee from that academy to represent India, will be representing one of the two local teams.
D'Silva said the community has dubbed the tournament as 'Goan Mini World tournament'.
Goan Welfare Association Red, GWA Blue Goa Veterans, Bahrain Goans, SBCB Bahrain, Santos United, Kuwait, Navelim Youth Centre Kuwait, Vanxin Divar, Dubai, ABC Benaulim, Dubai and Aldona United, Dubai, will be the teams in action.
The tournament draw will be held on October 30 at the Doha Grand Hotel at 8pm, he said.
Preliminary matches will be played on round-robin league basis. Two top teams from each group will clash for the semifinals.
Goa Football Association Secretary Savio Messais will be the chief guest for the tournament while Antonio Marcus Pacheco, who is currently assisting India's English-coach Bob Houghton as goalkeeper's coach will be the guest of honour.
Jassim Ali Mohamed Ibrahim, former Qatar football player will be the special guest for the tournament.
The tournament will be officiated by referees from Qatar Football Federation.
More details can be had from vice-president for sports of GWA Martin Mascerenhas on 5504801 or Simon D'Silva, president, on 5550491.
Goa Veterans: Camilo Gonsalves (Dempo), Lawrence Miguel Gomes (Salgaocar), Bruno Coutinho (Salgaocar), Savio Madeira (Salgaocar), Xavier Colaco (Dempo), Alfred Joaquim Fernandes (Churchill), Edwin William Moraes (Sesa Goa), Alvito Francisco Rodrigues (Velsao Pale), Roque Carneiro (Churchill), Chandrakant Naik (Dempo) and Anthony Fernandes (Raia Sporting)
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=250557&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16
