Focus on KIFF League after the election of FIFA Presidency

Kuwait: With much of the soccer season completed across the globe, and the focus on the election of FIFA president accomplished, Kuwait Indians are now focused – with their eyes on the prestigious KIFF league 2010-11 J P D’Mello Memorial Rolling Trophy organized under the patronage of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF).

The culminating semi finals of the league will be played on Friday, June 3, 2011 on MOH ground, Shuwaikh. The matches will be officiated by KIFF referees. On account of the extreme heat nearing 50 degrees, the matches will commence early in the morning with the first game scheduled at 6.45 am.

In the first match of the day, strong challengers Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) will face defending champions United Friends Club (UFC) while the other semifinal will see popular Goan Maroons facing a strong challenge of a young and spirited Rising Stars.
KGA have been excellent all season but shuffling players in different positions has created a loss of momentum and consistency. KGA’s approach will depend much on the moods of their star player Bernard Pires along with other play makers such as Jimmy, Vitorin and veteran Tiago Fernandes. United Friends are known to rise to the occasion without being too classy.

Juzer Bankoda, Hemanth Kumar, Edwin Dias, Remedio Fernandes, Godwin Fernandes, Xavier Costa, Darwin D’Cruz, Teotonio Fernandes, Mauricio Simoes, Peter D’Souza and Antonio Fernandes and goalkeeper Martin Dias are some of the stars of UFC.

Maroons consisting of popular players such as Ian D’Souza, Regi, Terence, Steven, etc, possess a tremendous team. Their superiority shows in ball possession which can easily put the opponents on the backfoot.

Rising Stars, however, are eager to earn their chance to make it the prestigious final. Their players have the ability to display great stamina in the summer heat of Kuwait. Rising Stars president Lawry Pinto will bank on his prolific striker Faizilu to score the goals for his team.

According to KIFF president Fidelis Fernandes, 'man of the match' awards sponsored by Al Mulla International Exchange Company will be presented after each match.

Apart from the League, the KIFF established in 1984 conducts 11-aside and 7-aside tournaments organized by clubs affiliated to KIFF.

J P D’Mello Memorial Rolling Trophy - KIFF League is named after late Jerome Pascoal DMello (popularly known in India and Kuwait as J P). Hailing from Bombay, D’Mello lived and worked in Kuwait and was the prime architect in conceiving the idea of forming KIFF.

A former FIFA referee and member of Asian Football Confederation Referees' Committee and former honorary secretary and member of Bombay Referees' Association, D’Mello passed away in 1994