IFFK SOCCER TOURNAMENT IN KUWAIT.

Big Boys.

Real Betalbatim

Kuwait: The Indian Football Federation – Kuwait 9 A side soccer tournament organized by Don Bosco Oratory played on a league cum knock out basis kicked off on 19th Nov 2010 at the Daya Astro turf ground in Daya. In total 10 teams participated in this tournament as indicated below:

AVC / Indians / MAC / Fahaheel Brothers (a) / Fahaheel Brothers (b) / Big Boys / Veterans United / Real Betalbatim / US Guards & Don Bosco.

Real Betalbatim coach John Ferrao unleashed his most senior and experienced center half Sarto Baptista during their match with Big Boys. Sarto Baptista, an ex national player who played for Salgoancar Sports Club during his hey days showed his classy glimpses. Real Betalbatim club is compared to Manchester City for its heavy signings with a star packed team. Both teams playing on synthetic turf for the first time certainly felt the difference. In the first 6 minutes Noel Pinto of Real Betalbatim missed out on an easy chance to open the account.

Big Boys boss Mr. A. Cadiri had his game plan well set in place by using his wingers to attack by using their right wing. Fazal Mohammed of Big Boys troubled the Real Betalbatim defense and missed out on a couple of goal scoring opportunity and could have taken the lead by 3 goals in the second. Brilliant display by Big boys mid field Mohammed Shereef and it is to be said that this team shows promise and will be one to watch in days to come.

But Real Betalbatim star of the day was another heavy signing Bradley Ragtao who playing from the left back made some impressive moves, but Viet D’Silva and Noel Pinto failed to find the net. Bradley had to take it on himself to open the account by taking a long shot outside the penalty box making no mistake in finding the net. Viet D’Silva made it 2-0 and at the end of the full time Real Betalbatim beat Big Boys by 2 goals to nil.

The teams are divided in 2 pools as listed below:

POOL A = Mac / Veterans / Fahaheel Bros (A) / AVC & Don Bosco Oratory
POOL B = Real Betalbatim / Indians / Fahaheel Bros (B) / Big Boys & US Guards.

Speaking to Indian Football Federation – Kuwait (IFFK), Council members present on the first day of the IFF-K 9 A side league cum knock out soccer tournament commented: Mr. Bernard Fernandes stated “The federation has taken the time out from the IFF-K League, giving teams to play a different format of this sport and the move from a grass ground to a synthetic turf. The players will find the difference playing on two different fields which are FIFA approved’’.
And Mr. Xavier Furtado added that the ‘’Federation has always come up with something extraordinary and surprises. Like our last season 2009/2010 finals trophies for both individual and team were ordered from the United States of America, and we try our best to ensure all trophies for tournaments organized by the federation will be imported this time too. The Indian Football Federation Kuwait is purely for promoting soccer in the State of Kuwait and it stands united on this front. The Federation is the first of its kind in Kuwait where all are invited to play the game without any discrimination’’.

Two grounds (Salmiya Baladiya Stadium and Daya Astro turf) are made available by the kind hearted Kuwaiti authorities to the Indian Football Federation Kuwait to organize its matches for this season.

Matches for next Friday 26th Nov 2010 – US Guards v/s Fahaheel Bros (B)
Don Bosco v/s Fahaheel Bros (A)
Indians v/s Big Boys

All matches organized by Indian Football Federation – Kuwait are officiated by the professional Indian Football Referee Association (IFRA).