By Gasper Crasto
Kuwait: Navelim YC beat Goa Maroons in the final to lift the Farewell & Friendship Cup Exhibition Football played at MOH ground, Shuwaikh on 2nd December 2011.
Goa Maroons, Kuwait Goan Association and Navelim YC participated in the 11-aside games played on a round robin league with the top two teams playing the final. The Exhibition games were specially organized by the 3 clubs to bid farewell to 2 great Indian footballers - Terence Carvalho of Goa Maroons and Jimmy Goveia of Kuwait Goan Associaton, leaving Kuwait for good.
In a rare gesture and a mark of high respect, Terence and Jimmy were fielded in Navelim colors to play against rival teams. Navelim who are celebrating 25 years of its existence in Kuwait are involved in hosting a series of friendly matches to inculcate friendship among the community.
The final was exciting as both teams, archrivals in Indian football in Kuwait, played attacking football. Navelim won in the tie-breaker after the match ended goalless. Navelim captain and goalkeeper Britto Pereira excelled throughout the tournament especially in penalty shoot-outs. Navelim team comprised of Britto Pereira, Wilson Pires, John Furtado, Alfred Pires, Victor Fernandes, Joaquim Rodrigues, Rayan Fernandes, Bernard Pires, Ivo Rodrigues, Aayan, Simao Gaonkar, Cruzedio Rodrigues, Terence Carvalho, Jimmy Goveia and Gasper Crasto. The team was managed by Avelino Dias.
Earlier in the round robin league, Maroons beat Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) for a title clash with Navelim. Both Maroons and KGA fielded star players on their roster as well as a host of others. Stalwart goalkeeper Julio Cardoso guarded the goal for Maroons while well-known Maroons players James Figuira, Jerry Mello and Tony Correia were also present.Glittering trophies were awarded to the winners while Terence and Jimmy were felicitated with special awards by KGA, Maroons and Navelim. Presidents of the 3 clubs Salvador Dias, Raymond D’Sa and Agnello A.S. Fernandes spoke on the occasion. The winner’s trophy was presented by Terence and Jimmy. Gasper Crasto conducted the proceedings.
Bidding goodbye after 17 glorious years in Kuwait, Terence Carvalho, a stalwart of Goa Maroons, will leave for Australia to join his wife and children already permanent residents Down Under. Of Goan origin, Terence lived most of his life in Mumbai where he started playing football for his school and went on to represent a few well-known clubs before coming to Kuwait.
A very quiet, modest person, Terry as he is fondly called, first arrived in Kuwait in the summer of 1993 to work for Al-Sawan Company, managing the Kuwait and Qatar Logistic operations. The much loved footballer will leave Kuwait on 5th December 2011.
Terry started his football career in Kuwait with Goan Overseas Association (Goa Maroons) and has shown his allegiance to the club despite lucrative offers to join other clubs.
A gifted midfielder with a strong personality and physical presence, Terry has been an anchor for the powerful Goa Maroons team and has gone on to win numerous trophies for the club, including captaining Maroons on many occasions.
Jimmy Goveia played for different clubs in Kuwait and is still in terrific form. Popularly known as Jimmy, the mercurial midfielder had first come to Kuwait as a 17 year old, 20 years back. Kuwait Goan Association President Salvador Dias said his club would dearly miss the footballer who has been a great encouragement to budding players. Jimmy is scheduled to leave Kuwait for England at the end of December.
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