:::NAVELIM TO CLASH WITH AVC FOR J.P MEMORIAL KIFF LEAGUE TITLE::: :::Navelim in record 7th League Final::: Kuwait: The Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) League, the only competition of its kind among expatriate Indians abroad promises a spectacular finale when the top two teams in the League, AVC Sports Association and Navelim Youth Centre clash Friday morning, 18th July 2008 at the Salmiya Grounds for the coveted J.P. Memorial Rolling Trophy. The summer heat and humidity in Kuwait may not be a perfect climate for the amateur players to display their full potential skills but anyway it all seems like a lovely antidote to enjoy watching two best teams vying for top honors.
Football among expatriates in Kuwait fulfills its function to divert one's mind from reality and all football lovers fall for the con. The mythology of football here is that it is an independent game, where the working man in particular can be heard. The myth holds that spectators are the clubs and it s their collective memory which remains constant as players, officials and clubs come and go. The diehard supporters always throng the Grounds and cheer the lads. Everyone is aware the games here are played for love and not fortune. One may not certainly see huge crowds and players changing shirts with opposition teams after each match as seen on TV but the euphoria created during some games is nothing less than a 'World Cup' match. :::Navelim versus Kuwait Goans::: Semi-final matches of any game in the world are the toughest ones not something strange among Indians either. In the League semifinals for played last Friday, defending champions Kuwait Goan Association lost out to Navelim Youth Centre in the tie-breaker after the teams were locked 1-1 during normal time. Navelim stand-in goalkeeper Alfred Pires saved 2 crunch penalties to put Navelim in a record 7th League Final in the last 10 editions. Earlier, striker Cruz Rodrigues put Navelim into the lead in the 20th minute of the game. Captain Vico D'Souza of Kuwait Goans equalized in the second half ten minutes remaining for the end of match. Navelim midfielders Duarte Ferrao, Simao, John Furtado Ivo D'costa and Savio Furtado, and goalkeeper Britto were excellent in the game. Navelim will be without the services of their star striker Cruzedio who left for Goa on holidays. :::DHL versus AVC::: The other semifinal played between DHL and AVC was a high drama game, both teams fighting to be in the finals. AVC, who are already crowned Season Champions for winning major tournamen games this season scored through Savio Fernandes. DHL fought valiantly for the equalizer but AVC stood strong. Vincy Pereira, Francis Fernandes, Ronnie, Lucian, Kevin, etc, excelled for the winners. AVC, one the consistent teams for the past few years are coached by former Churchill Brothers (Goa) footballer Alvaro Dias while Navelim are coached by ex-Salgaocar (Goa) Gasper Crasto, both active players in the League. Meanwhile, KIFF President Mr. B.M. Viegas has extended invitation to all member clubs, affiliates and football lovers to come and witness a grand finale to the season. A Third Place play-off will be played prior to the finals between DHL and Kuwait Goan Association according to KIFF Sports Secretary Derrick Gomendes. KIFF League matches are officiated by referees affiliated to Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA). :::Teams::: Navelim YC: Britto Pereira (goalkeeper), Wilson Pires, John Furtado, Alfred Pires, Joaquim Rodrigues, Simao Gaunkar, Christi Pires, Duarte Ferrao, Americo Fernandes, Ivo D'Costa, Sidney Rodrigues, Gasper Crasto, Victor Fernandes, Kelvin Rodrigues Coach: Gasper Crasto Team Manager: Bernard Fernandes, Asst. Team Manager: Britto Pereira Sports Secretary: Avelino Dias Jersey color: Blue & White; Formation: 4-5-1 AVC Overseas: Jose Fernandes (goalkeeper), Alvaro Dias (goalkeeper) Vincy Pereira, Joseph Quadros, Peter Crasto, Francis Rodrigues (captain), Francis Fernandes, Luciano D'Souza, Edward Dias, Ronnie Fernandes, Molvito Mascarenhas, Kevin Vaz, Melvy Fernandes, Savio Fernandes, Leroy Rodrigues, Vicky Wagmaria, Milton Fernandes, Nickus Fernandes, Braulio Rodrigues, Liston Dominic, Custodio Castana, Klinton Vaz, Seby Fernandes, Bashir Bepari Coach: Alvaro Dias Team Manager: Levlyn Almeida Jersey: Black, Formation: 4-3-3 Match Duration: 45 minutes each half Grounds: Salmiya Grounds Time: 7 am Expected temperature on Friday: 48°C :::J. P. Memorial Rolling Trophy::: The J.P. Memorial Rolling Trophy - KIFF League is named after late Jerome Pascoal D'Mello (popularly known in India and Kuwait as J.P). Ex-FIFA referee and Member of Asian Football Confederation Referees Committee and Ex-Hon. Secretary and Member of Bombay Referees' Association, D'Mello who lived in Andheri East, Bombay, left for his heavenly abode in 1994. He was the prime architect in conceiving the idea of forming KIFF. The KIFF League of 2007-08 which commenced in October last included 18 teams registered with the Federation. The teams were divided into two groups for a round robin League. Navelim Youth Centre have won the League a maximum four times followed by G O.A Maroons (3 times) since the inception of the Trophy in 1994. Record of the League for the past 10 seasons: 1996/97 Navelim Y. Centre v/s G.O.A Maroons ---- GOA Maroons 1997/98 Navelim Y. Centre v/s United Friends Club ---Navelim Youth Centre 1998/99 United Friends Club v/s United Goans Centre---United Friends Club 1999/00 League not held 2000/01 G.O.A Maroons v/s United Friends Club---GOA Maroons 2001/02 Navelim Y. Centre v/s G.O.A Maroons---Navelim Youth Centre 2002/03 Navelim Y. Centre v/s United Friends Club---United Friends Club 2003/04 Bombay Boys v/s United Friends Club---Bombay Boys 2004/05 Navelim Youth Centre v/s A.V.C. Overseas Association---AVC Overseas Association 2005/06 Navelim Youth Centre v/s GOA Maroons---Navelim Youth Centre 2006-07 Kuwait Goans v/s Kerala Challengers---Kuwait Goans The above news item has appeared in: ARAB TIMES, Kuwait & http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=84956 http://goa.kranti.blogspot.com/ www.indianfootball.com (July News) http://gaspersworld.tripod.com / Brought to you by: www.goa-world.com :::Thought for the week::: One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness. www.goa-world.com ===WATCH OUT FOR NEWS ON=== NAVELIM YOUTH CENTRE'S ----50 YEARS OF TRADITION--- :::NITE-O-ROSES:::
