Kuwait, July 15, 2008: 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. D'Mello 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, Simao, Ivo D'costa and Savio Furtado, and goalkeeper Britto were excellent in the game.
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 tournaments 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).
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 years:
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
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Forwarded by gaspersWorld gaspercrasto@hotmail.com
