Maroons and Navelim in Group of Death: NYC Trophy DRAW‏

By Gasper Crasto

Kuwait: Navelim Santos FC will meet Indian Strikers in the first match of the Navelim Youth Centre (NYC) organized 22ndEdition of NYC Trophy football tournament in memory of late Alvernaz-LalushAlemao, commencing from 4th March 2011 at the MOH Grounds, Shuwaikh.

Churchill Brothers Goa are the official sponsors of this year’s edition.

The tournament will be played under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) and officiated by KIFF referees.

The draw for this edition was conducted on 26th February 2011 during the Veterans Tournament in presence of NYC President Agnello A. S. Fernandes, KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes, representatives of participating teams as well as large crowd of spectators who came to witness the Veterans games.

Fourteen strong teams affiliated to Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) will contest for the prestigious, perhaps one of the most uniquely sculpt trophies worldwide, instituted by Navelim Youth Centre in the year 1993. Hosts Navelim Youth Centre who have won the trophy 7 times since its inception are the defending champions; they beat Curtorcares United in the final in 2010 witnessed by Goa’s PWD Minister Churchill Alemao.

Maroons have won the tournament 5 times. Both Maroons and Navelim are pitted in the same group this time.

The participating teams are:
Navelim Youth Centre, Curtorcares United, Goa Maroons, Kuwait Goan Association, United Friends Club, DHL, Skynet Raiders, CRC Chinchinim, YRC Rising Stars, Santos FC, United Goans Strikers, Indian Strikers, Rawda Challengers and FC Sparx.

Following clubs have won the Trophy since 1999-2000:
1999-00 - Navelim Y. Centre
2000-01 - Colva United
2001-02 - Colva United
2002-03 - Navelim Y. Centre
2003-04 - Bombay Boys
2004-05 - Curtorcares United
2005-06 - GOA Maroons
2006-07 - DHL Kuwait
2007-08 - Kuwait Goan Association
2009-10 - Navelim Youth Centre

First Round Fixtures (04/03/2011):
Santos FC vs Indian Strikers at 06.45 am
DHL FC vs YRC Rising stars at 08:30 am
FC Sparks vs GOA Maroons at 09.45 am