K.I.F.F conducts a Memorable Finale: News & Photos of J.P. D'Mello Memorial League

J.P. D'Mello KIFF League: Sponsored by Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Co. 
K.I.F.F conducts a memorable finale

Gasper Crasto for www.goa-world.com/

Kuwait: In one of the best finals conducted by the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (K.I.F.F) for the J.P. D'Mello Memorial KIFF League Trophy sponsored by Gulf Cable and Electrical Co., neither hot weather nor the humidity prevented a dramatic finish to the grand finale.

United Friends Club (UFC) came from behind from a two-goal deficit to equalize (2-2) and clinch the title in the tie-breaker (4-2) against the young Curtorcares United.

Curtorcares United's star players Zico and Roland Fernandes put their team forward early into the match but UFC equalized both the goals before the breather through Rosario and Godwin Fernandes. UFC won the tie-breaker after a grueling goalless extra-time. Cajetan Godinho, one of the iconic players of Kuwait playing since the inception of the league, was among the shooters spot on target for the winners.

The grand finale was played under floodlights on 2nd July 2010 at the Peace & Friendship Kazma Stadium, Adeliya, Kuwait. Earlier, a group of young girls called Crazy Girls performed a dance to the beats of the World Cup theme. Later, the finalists were escorted on the ground by the school teams and children with balloons and the Special Guest His Excellency Shri Ajai Malhotra was introduced to the players by KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes.

His Excellency Shri Ajai Malhotra, Ambassador of India was the Special Guest at the event. Speaking on the occasion Shri Malhotra said it was indeed commendable to have a full-fledged league running throughout the year outside India and applauded the KIFF for their marvelous efforts in promoting Indian football.

Shri Malhotra was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Mrs. Merlyn Fernandes. Later Shri. Malhotra released a colorful 44 page souvenir handed over by Ms Karen Nelsa Fernandes to mark the event.

Fidelis Fernandes, President of KIFF, in his speech was all praise for the tremendous support accorded by his KIFF colleagues while he thanked Gulf Cable and Electrical Company's Bader Naser Al Kharafi, Chairman and Director, in a special way for fully sponsoring KIFF league finale and Asad Al Banwan Chairman of Kazma Sports club for providing the stadium which is one of the best in Kuwait.

The final was officiated by FIFA Referee Franky Fernandes especially flown in for the finals by KIFF. He was assisted by Derick Gomindes, Jerry Mello and P.A. Tony.

Earlier, Delhi Public School (DPS), Fahaheel beat Indian Central School, Abbasiya 3-1 in the finals of the Schools Invitation Football tournament.

Crazy Girls dance group performing before the finals

The finalists enter the field led by children

Young escorts for the teams

A section of the Peace & Friendship stadium

Schools team Indian Central School, Abhasiya

KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes receiving a memento from H.E. Shri Ajai Malhotra

A commemorative plaque handed over to Mr. Edwin Tavares of Gulf Cable & Electrical Co.

Mrs. Aretha Fernandes presenting a memento to KIFF Sports Secretary Bernard Fernandes

Icon player Cajetan Godinho receiving an award from Vice-President Tony Correia

NYC President Agnello A.S. Fernandes receiving an award from KIFF President

UFC captain Mauricio receiving the J.P. D'Mello Trophy from KIFF President Mr. Fidelis

The victorious UFC team

Curtorcares United captain Roland Fernandes receiving the Runners-Up Trophy

Edwin Tavares presenting a trophy to UFC player

Curtorcares star player Zico receiving a trophy

CRC Chinchinim President Bosco Leita receiving the Seasons Champions Trophy

(Photos by Simon Dias - Professional Photographer) 

 

For the complete Photo Album click: http://gaspersworld.blogspot.com/

Prizes and Awards

It was a feast of prizes, awards and mementos, and quality ones at that, presented during the half-time and at the presentation ceremony. There were trophies, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, etc. The event would surely remain memorable to many youngsters as the prestige of these awards holds value and status of the awarder - the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (K.I.F.F).

Past KIFF Presidents honored

"History is written by the victors," is a famous quote by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It was nice to see the past presidents of KIFF being honored with commemorative plaques at the hands of H.E. Shri Ajai Malhotra. The historical presidents were V.K. Vohra (1984~1989 & 1992~1998), Agnelo Fernandes (1989~1990), Anselmo Furtado (1998~1999), A.E. D'Souza (1999~2000), Inacio Faleiro (2000~2001), Victor Mesquita (2001~2002), Lawry M. Pinto (2002~2003), Tony Correia (2003~2004), Tony Dias (2004~2005), Manuel D'Costa (2005~2006), B.M. Viegas (2006~2009) and Fidelis Fernandes (2009~2010)

Mementos to Club Presidents affiliated with KIFF

Presidents of the 10 clubs affiliated with KIFF were also honored on the occasion. These were Raymond D'Sa (Goa Maroons), Lawry Pinto (Y.R.C Rising Stars), Salvador Dias (Kuwait Goan Association), Agnello Fernandes (Navelim YC), Rajesh Bernard (Indian Strikers), Pascoal Alphonso (United Goans Centre), Bosco Leitao (CRC Chinchinim), Cajetan Pereira (United Friends Club), Amaldo Fernandes (Curtorcares United) and Tony Dias (Santos Football Club).

Other Awards

Commemorative plaques were presented to the KIFF Managing Committee members at the hands of Mrs. Aretha Fernandes, wife of KIFF President Fidelis while KIFF Vice-President Tony Correia presented the honors to players above the age of 50 years and still playing under KIFF. The icon players awarded for their contribution towards the game were James Figueira, Mauricio Costa, Julio Cardozo, Cajetan Godinho, Inacio Pinto and Anthony Viegas.

Mementos were also presented to Jose Rod and Christovam Colaco, players who have made a mark with their game but are not able to continue playing.

Bernard Fernandes did the honors of presenting a special commemorative plaque to FIFA referee Franky Fernandes along with all the KIFF appointed referees.

Fair Play Award and Seasons Champions

The prestigious Fair Play Award and the Seasons Champions Trophy was won by CRC Chinchinim. Trophies, medals and certificates were awarded to all the participating School teams, affiliated clubs.

Jose Anthony Cardozo of Curtorcares United was awarded the top scorer of the season. He was awarded at the hands of V.K. Vohra who also gifted the player with a personal award.

Remedio Fernandes of UFC was declared KIFF League Final Man of the Match.

The glittering trophies were distributed at the hands of the KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes, KIFF Managing Committee and Edwin Tavares representing Gulf Cable and Electrical Co. Earlier Tony Correia proposed a vote of thanks.

DJ Mario provided scintillating music throughout the evening while the function was compered by Gasper Crasto. On behalf of KIFF he thanked the media especially Arab Times, www.goa-world.com, www.indiansinkuwait.com, http://mangalorean.com, etc, for exclusive coverage of the tournament.

J.P. D'Mello KIFF League

The KIFF League played under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (K.I.F.F) and officiated by KIFF referees provides Indian players with the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition, while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play -- in perhaps one of India's only 11-aside recognized league abroad.

The Kuwait Indian Football Federation (K.I.F.F.) established in 1984 controls the League and Tournaments organized by clubs affiliated to KIFF.

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).

The late J.P. D'Mello, founder President of the Association was the one instrumental in forming the current Kuwait Indian Football Federation (K.I.F.F). His memory has been justly kept alive by KIFF through its affiliated Indian football teams/clubs/associations by naming the KIFF League after him.

D'Mello was an ex-FIFA referee, Member of Asian Football Confederation Referees Committee and Ex-Hon. Secretary and Member of Bombay Referees' Association. A prime architect in conceiving the idea of forming KIFF, D'Mello who lived in Andheri East, Bombay left for a heavenly abode in 1994.

KIFF Managing Committee Members for 2009-2010:

President – Fidelis Fernandes (Kuwait Goan Association)
Vice President – Tony Correia (GOA Maroons)
Treasurer – Pascoal Alphonso (United Goans Centre)
Sports Secretary – Bernard Fernandes (Navelim Youth Centre)
Registrar – Nicholas Rodrigues (United Friends Club)
PRO – Seby Dias (Curtorcares United)
Reliever – Nester Coutinho (CRC Chinchinim)

The Champions:

United Friends Club: Joaquim Pillai, Peter D'souza, Maurice Simoes (captain), Teotonio Fernandes, Darwin D'cruz, Joaquim Rodrigues, Antonio Fernandes, Remedio Fernandes, Godwin Fernandes, Rosario Fernandes, Ubed Karakhil, Cajetan Godinho, James Rebello, Alino Mendes, Filipino Vaz, Derrick, etc.
Team Manager: Mr. Nicholas Rodrigues

Runners-up

Curtorcares United: Francis Fernandes, Savio Rebello, Roland Fernandes, Rony Dias, Minguel Mouro, Sebastiao Fernandes, Zico Fernandes(Captain), Jose Cardozo, Francisco, Christovam Vaz, Felton, Olave, Clinton Coelho, John Vaz, Benjamin, RV Murthy, Mario Viegas, Camilo and Laurent Furtado.
Team Manager: Mr. Seby Dias

:::The above news was published in Kuwait's Arab Times, Kuwait Times and on different websites:::

 

  Record of the League since 1996-97:

SEASON	PLAYED BETWEEN	CHAMPIONS
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
2007-08	Navelim Youth Centre v/s A.V.C. Overseas Association	Navelim Youth Centre
2008-09	Goa Maroons v/s DHL	Goa Maroons
2009-10	United Friends Club v/s Curtorcares	United Friends

 KIFF Managing Committee Members for 2009-2010:

President – Mr. Fidelis Fernandes (Kuwait Goan Association)
Vice President – Mr. Tony Correia (GOA Maroons)
Treasurer – Mr. Pascoal Alphonso (United Goans Centre)
Sports Secretary – Mr. Bernard Fernandes (Navelim Youth Centre)
Registrar – Mr. Nicholas Rodrigues (United Friends Club)
PRO – Mr. Seby Dias (Curtorcares United) 
Reliever – Mr. Nester Coutinho (CRC Chinchinim)

 

Other Links:

Legacy of Indian Football in Kuwait...24/07/2008

'Incredible' Goans of Kuwait

Churchill Bros lose in Kuwait, win hearts of Goans

---

Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. Learn more.

GOOD, SINCERE POLITICIANS A MYTH IN GOA.

Good, Sincere Politicians In Goa, A Myth Or A Mystery ? Like the rest of India, Goan politics too has been infested with criminal elements. Records show that a good number of politicians in the Goa Assembly have criminal records or have been known or suspected to have links with criminal elements. We Goans have somehow lost our astuteness and our dignity, as we have been electing the same tainted and corrupt politicians over and over again. Now we have allowed the soaring eagles, to turn themselves into vultures. Goa is know to be only second to Kerela in literacy, in India, but we certainly do not, do any justice to this record, as we mostly elect the corrupt, fraudulent, illiterate and the worst of politicians to run our government. If we do not translate our high percentage of literacy into effective understanding while electing able, capable and honest men and women, if we cannot display even a modicum of intelligence in electing good people, what is the use of our high percentage of literacy ?

It has indeed become an unmitigated and an unconscionable tragedy. Most parties are only interested in giving election tickets to people who can bloat up their party funds and do not look at the qualities and the character of their candidates. As usual all parties pledge that no tainted person will be given a ticket, but unfortunately, it’s not practiced by the eloquent preachers and most criminals are sheltered and feel secure under the ambit of these parties, as a result of which most parties have a striking similarity of afflictions. Thus the edifice of a supposedly good governance is raised on the foundations of criminality and we are least moved by it’s impact nor repelled by it’s horror, as it has only become a natural progression for us, Goans, a perfect hatchery for all the ills.

Though politics and corruption should be antithetical, the two entities are inseparable in Goa and one without the other is untenable. It has been that way for some time now. Our Goans politicians and bureaucrats are become the epitomes of corruption, once in a while our sleuths pick up one or two small fries for corruption trying to pull wool over the eyes of the common men, while the big sharks continue their plunder unabated, protected by the very same sleuths for a share of the spoils, if not, all the minister would have been picked up and locked in the dock by the sleuths with ease.

Of late we have been hearing of the privatization of our heritage sites and forts, what’s our Government upto ? Our heritage sites and forts should be protected and preserved and not try to destroy those “signatures” or remnants of our historic past through commercialization, the authenticity and the exuberance of these places must be preserved at all costs, money only is not everything, these monuments are somehow connected with our lives and our past and they should not be left at the mercy of the highest bidders. Our politicians have scant respect for nature and even more so for our environment, Governments round the world are worried about global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer and the receding of fresh water tables and are planning strategies for long term sustenance of what’s left, but our Goan politicians are going berserk to kill the goose that’s laying the golden eggs for them, not realizing the magnanimity of their callous actions.

Our politicians are going at break-neck speed to devour all our natural resources, not thinking of the future or our posterity and are further contributing to all the adverse causes of destruction and degradation. A lot of them are involved in illegal mining or support illegal mining, hill cutting, filling of mangroves, fields and low-lying areas, tilting the balance of nature in the wrong direction, which can only increase the misery and sufferings of the common men. It is indeed a tragedy that Maoist have spread over most of North-eastern and central regions of India, but what is worse, is the fact that we Goans elect politicians who are on better than the Maoist, and to avert this tragedy there is only one option. We must accord the same treatment to the corrupt officers and criminal politicians that we would plan for Maoist leaders. As one group is draining the life-blood of the country, while the other is out to destroy the state by allowing crime and corruption to flourish, with no constructive agendas as such, and both entities are equally dangerous for our survival, our upliftment and our developmental progress. If we want Goa and Goans to survive, by all means, we will have to force viable variations, for a change in the present form of governance, which will have to be thought out carefully, it will be a daunting task no doubt but certainly not impossible, if we all think positively and be committed to the cause of Goa. If only we truly love Goa we will be able to bring this change in governance. Or good, sincere politicians in Goa, will only be a myth or a mystery ?

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai – UAE.