Mangor Tommy’s, Vasco emerged Champions of the All Goa 5-a-side Tie-Breaker Football Tournament organized by Panjim Sports Festival Committee, Young Boys of Campal and JCI St. Inez, held in joint Association with the SAG and supported by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs. In a pulsating Finals, the Vasco Team edged out SFX Mala 4-2, to clinch the glittering Trophy along with a Cash Prize of Rs 4000/-. Dempo Tigers, Altinho bagged the 3rd place while Kevrem Boys emerged 4th.
Quarter Finals Prizes and Trophies were awarded to Dempo College of Commerce, Miramar, Cross 7 Caranzalem, Auxilium High School Caranzalem and Young Boys of Kevrem. The Prizes and Trophies for Best Goal Keeper and Best Shooter were awarded to Nikhil from Mangor Tommy’s and Ali Mohammed from Dempo Tigers respectively. Haston Rebello was awarded Promising Young Player Prize while Hilary Fernandes bagged the Senior-most Player Trophy. The event, held at Campal Grounds to express solidarity with the proposed reconstruction of the Campal Football Stadium, saw a huge turnout of 118 teams, who came from the various nooks and corners of Panjim and surrounding areas, battling the heavy rains and rough weather in a massive show of strength. There were 56 teams from Panjim, 24 teams from Taleigao and Dona Paola, 12 Teams from the areas of St. Cruz and Merces and the others from nearby areas. There were 4 Teams from the Kaddint area(an area located exactly opposite the Campal grounds), dispelling all doubts that the residents of Campal were against the stadium reconstruction. Many city schools made their presence felt with some schools like Don Boscos, Panjim fielding as many as 4 different Teams. Two Girls Teams also participated. Earlier, the Championship was inaugurated by Panjim MLA and Leader of the Opposition Shri Manohar Parrikar in the presence of Dr Rufino Monteiro, Opposition Councillor Surendra Furtado, former Mayor Ashok Naik, Joaquim Teles, organizing Secretary Sandeep Heble, and organizing Club Presidents Leslie Roncon, Hilary Fernandes and Michael Ribeiro amongst others. Most of the Opposition Councilors were there to express their support. Several prominent citizens from Panjim were also there. Ruling Councilor Bento made his presence felt. Sportspersons, young and old, participated with full vigor, enthusiasm and spirit. Arjuna Awardee Brahmanand Sancoalcar led the way by participating with his young Team of trainees. The movement got a further boost when the city Mayor Yatin Parekh, who had initially opposed the State-of-the-Art Stadium, not only turned up at the venue but also played side-by-side along with the others, sending his strong signal of unity with the city residents. Together, all spoke in one united voice, "that the Campal Stadium must be rebuilt". The Tournamment was conducted by Selvyn Fernandes , Anthony Vaz, Angelo Albuquerque and Eurico Mascarenas. Later, Mr. Manohar Parrikar distributed the Prizes and assured all the Football Players and fans that Football was Goa’s first love and he would give his full backing to ensure that the Stadium would be rebuilt. Parrikar also expressed his hope, that most of the Cabinet Ministers, being Football lovers, would support such a demand. Organizing Secretary Sandeep Heble later proposed the Vote of Thanks. Photographs available at: http://tinyurl.com/campaltiebreaker yours sincerely Sandeep Heble Organizing Secretary 9326129171
