J P D’Mello Memorial Trophy (K.I.F.F) League ::Goan teams to fight for top honors at Kuwait’s Kazma Stadium::: By Gasper Crasto, www.goa-world.com , Kuwait Kuwait: Best teams in the world are always judged by their supremacy in their respective leagues. In a just concluded season, the champions in England are Manchester United, Barcelona FC in Spain, AC Milan in Italy, Qadsiya SC in Kuwait, and Salgaocar FC in India. In a lesser world of Indian expatriates in Kuwait, two Goan clubs will compete for top honors in the final of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (K.I.F.F) League 2010-11 for the prestigious J.P. D’Mello Trophy. The Goan outfits – popular Goa Maroons, and Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) reached the final after beating their rivals in ‘neck-and-neck’ semifinal battles reminiscent of any grueling and ferocious sport in the world. While KGA came from behind a 0-2 deficit to maraud defending champions United Friends Club 5-2, Goa Maroons scored a 2-1 victory over Rising Stars in a match marred by controversy and chaos. Both the games played in soaring temperatures nearing 50˚C kept the spectators on tenterhooks and made hot news over the weekend among die-hard Indian football followers in Kuwait as well as back home. :::United Friends v/s Kuwait Goan Association::: United Friends Club (UFC) will rue themselves for squandering a 2-0 lead taken off the boots of Alexandro Gomes and Denzil Jadhav early into the match. But then, amateur teams are no Barcelonas to play ball possession and finish off such a wonderful advantage of 2 goals. The joy of UFC, champions of the league in 1999, 2003 and 2010, was short lived as they saw their fort crumbling, mainly due to a non-existing midfield. Medio Remedio Fernandes, Edwin Dias and Darwin looked drained out in the second half, and the efforts of hardworking striker Godwin Fernandes and Hemanth Kumar to fall back in aid of central defenders Teotonio and Mauricio Simoes was not just enough. KGA, who played a ‘foxy, wait and grab’ game, made the best of all opportunities scoring the goals in quick succession within a space of 20 minutes to turn the tables over UFC (5-2). The goalscorers for KGA were Vitorino Menezes (2 goals), Anil Thakuri (1 goal) and substitute Josse Fernandes (2 goals). The ‘livewire’ in KGA ranks was former East Bengal and Salgaocar player Bernard Pires who controlled the entire game. The untiring Vitorino Menezes, who was later declared man of the match, was also amazing. However, the mastermind of the KGA team this season has been their captain Tiago Fernandes. The hardened warrior who started his football in the late 80s playing for Goa and later Salgaocars and Dempos still rules the roost (more than 20 years later) with precision, goal-scoring passes and long range shots. KGA will depend much on this iconic player to beat Kuwait’s most popular team Goa Maroons in the grand final of the league. :::GOA Maroons v/s Rising Stars::: Winning over tough rivals is great but winning with discipline is a greater than the sweetest of victories. Goa Maroons and Rising Stars, perhaps the oldest existing clubs under KIFF, had everything at stake in the match. Both teams wanted to prove their superiority and beat the other for a place in the final which is equivalent of a Champions League appearance for most players and fans. It was Maroons who took the lead midway into the first session. The goal was probably the result of a move planned in training, which saw medio Terrence Carvalho passing the ball down the line to Bonny, who crossed at the top of box. Elvis D’Souza, one of Maroons’ swiftest players, who had raced from the centre line met the pass and placed it past Rising keeper Lusiano Fernandes (1-0). Maroons were in total control for most part of the game. Carlos D’Sa, Gabriel Fernandes, Regi Rodrigues, Sandy Fernandes and captain Ian D’Souza were excellent throughout the match. Prolific scorer John Kennedy scored the other goal for Maroons (2-0). Rising Star’s main striker Maveli Fajilu pulled one back which brought excitement to the match and charged up the footballers. With 8 minutes left for the final whistle and Maroons eading 2-1, the match went into bad weathers when Rising Stars defender Vadakath Balagopal rushed to the assistant referee on the far touchline questioning an offside decision which he alleged was not pulled off. His altercation and misconduct with the official warranted him a straight red card which was however not accepted sportingly by the Rising players. Some players argued while others walked off the field prompting the official to flash a yellow card to Rising’s star player Fajilu who had taken off his jersey. The card turned out to be Fajilu’s second yellow of the match. As a rule, it was followed by a red. Rising players protested vehemently and did not continue the game thereafter. The match was abandoned; Maroons were later declared winners by a 2-1 margin. :::Finals on 10th June 2011 at Kazma Stadium::: While the entire league, that started last September consisting of 14 affiliated clubs was played at MOH ground Shuwaikh, the grand final of the league will be moved at the famous ‘Peace and Friendship, Kazma Stadium’ and will be played on 10th June 2011 under floodlights. The grand finale will spark off at 6pm sharp with a hardline final for the 3rd and 4th place between United Friends Club and Rising Stars. The final promises great entertainment as usual in a League finish and it’s an enormous occasion for Maroons president Raymond D’Sa as well as KGA president Salvador Dias. While Maroons has a history of winning top finals, KGA will look to reclaim the J.P.D’Mello Trophy they won in 2007. Navelim Youth Centre have won the trophy for a record number of times since its inception. Maroons who won trophy in 2009, are sure to stick to the semifinal lineup. Once again, they will be without the services of the indomitable James Figuera, Kuwait’s best known footballer who is out injured; while KGA are still nursing on the fitness of Jimmy Goveia, their super sub. Shri Shri Vidhu P. Nair - Charge D'Affaires, Indian Embassy of Kuwait has consented to be the chief guest at the finals. Mr. A. C. Roy, Chief Operating Officer - Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Co. will be the Guest of Honor. In a message sent to all affiliates of the federation, KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes has welcomed Indian football lovers and the expatriate communities to come and witness the grand finals. A dance program by Ballerine's school of dance will be a special attraction at the event. :::KIFF and J.P. D’Mello Memorial Trophy::: Apart from the League, the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (K.I.F.F.) established in 1984 conducts other 11-aside and 7-aside tournaments organized by clubs affiliated to KIFF. All matches under KIFF are officiated by KIFF referees. J.P. D’Mello Memorial Rolling Trophy - KIFF League is named after late Jerome Pascoal D’Mello (popularly known in India and Kuwait as J.P). Hailing from Bombay, D’Mello lived and worked in Kuwait and was the prime architect in conceiving the idea of forming KIFF. Ex-FIFA referee and Member of Asian Football Confederation Referees Committee and Ex-Hon. Secretary and Member of Bombay Referees' Association, D’Mello left for his heavenly abode in the year 1994. :::Probable team line-up for the finals::: Goa Maroons: Guilerme Gomes, Carlos D’Sa, Ian D’ Souza, Gabriel Fernandes, Regi Rodrigues, Sandy Fernandes, Terence Carvalho, Patrick Pinho, Bonny Niasso, John Ferrao, Elvis D’Souza, Joe Rebello, Joseph Correia, Albert Pereira, Everest Rodrigues, Valentine Gonsalves, Jerry Mello, Julio Cardoso, Steven Rodrigues and James Figueira. Coach: Julio Cardoso Team Manager: Assumption D’Sa Kuwait Goan Association: Luis Dias, Jacob Dias, Eduardo Dias, Francis Fernandes, Vitorino Menezes, Tiago Fernandes, John Costa, Ismyil Kayungal, Valentino Fernandes, Anil Thakuri, Bernard Pires, Christovam Colaco, Josse Fernandes, Zelito Cardozo, Blesson D’Souza, Concessao Rodrigues, Godwin Fernandes and Jimmy Goveia. Coach: Tiago Fernandes; Asst Coach: Pascoal Fernandes Team Manager: Concessao (Connie) Rodrigues click http://gaspersworld.blogspot.com/
