Navelim ahead In Bahrain Goans Soccer Tournament
The first round of matches in the Bahrain Goans Seven-a-side Soccer League for Fr. Felicio Diniz Trophy produced as many as 17 goals involving four matches during the week.
In the inaugural match on Wednesday at Al Qadisiya grounds, Melroy Rebello registered the first hatrick of the league as Navelim crushed Tivim with a 9 - 0 score line. The other scorers were Cirilo Baretto (2), Henry Fernandes (2), Godwin Pinto and John Sequeira one each. In the second match on Wednesday, Margao with a large vociferous supporters went down fighting to Verna 3 -1. Some fine goal keeping from Jeffry D'Costa under the Margao bar prevented young Verna strikers from increasing the tally. Joaquim Fernandes, James Borges and Agnelo Misquita scored for Verna while former senior division player of Bombay Seby Fernandes reduced the margin for Margao.
Earlier all the eight participating teams of the league were introduced to the chief guest Edward D'Almeida, the President of Konkan Singers, who lauded the efforts of the organisers in providing outdoor sports to members and guests of the club. In a short colourful opening ceremony of the league GR Crasto introduced the participating teams and guests while Francis Correia proposed a vote of thanks on behalf of the Bahrain Goans.
In the matches played on Friday at the open grounds in East Riffa, Bajil Dias scored once in each half to lead his team Benaulim to a 2 - 0 victory over Vasco. In the other match striker Antonio Fernandes caught the eye of the spectators as he played his role to perfection and scored two goals in the second half to lead Canacona to a 2 - 0 victory over Chinchinim. This match also witnessed the first warning (yellow) card of the league by refree Sadanand Naik to Jacinto D'Cruz of Chinchinim for excessive arguments with the match officials.
G.R.Crasto/Bahrain.
