Kuwait's NAVELIM YC emerge Champions in Bahrain

Kuwait: Navelim Youth Centre - Kuwait (NYC) emerged champions of Young Goans Club 7-a-side international football championship defeating Montana Travel Marina FC by a solitary goal in the finals of the one-day tournament played Friday 14^th December 2012 at the Gulf-Air Club grounds in Salmabad, Bahrain.

Simao scored the decisive goal in the first half off a pass by former Goan senior division star Bernard Pires. Marina FC tried hard for an equaliser but the visitors stood firm in defence while goalkeeper Britto Pereira was at his super-best to claim the trophy for Navelim incidentally in the 25^th year of the club’s existence.

The final match was officiated by Gerry Fernandes.

Navelim YC sponsored by Al Sayer Facilities were represented by Britto Pereira, Alfred Pires, Joaquim Rodrigues, Nilesh Parmar, Simao Gauncar, Victor Fernandes, Ivo Rodrigues, Bernard Pires, Gasper Crasto and Cruzedio Rodrigues. The team was accompanied by NYC Sports Secretary Avelino Dias, Ex-President Mario Carneiro and PRO Simon Dias, etc, along with other family members.

In the qualification rounds, NYC topped their group and defeated Salcette United 1-0 in the quarters before edging out Nuvem in the semifinals 3-2 through a penalty shoot-out, having drawn their match in regulation time.

Marina FC, who were the runners up of group C, edged out a  star-studded Goa Maroons from Kuwait by a solitary goal in the quarters and got the better of Veterans United, another team from Kuwait in the semis 2-0. Veterans-Kuwait showed grit and determination to advance till the semis after qualifying for the knockout phase as one of the best losing teams in the groups.

In third-place play-off Nuvem defeated Veterans-United Kuwait 3-0. Bahrain Goans (Veterans) won the plate competition defeating Assagao Youth Club 2-1 in the tie-breaker.

Curzedio Rodrigues of NYC - Kuwait who scored 5 goals in the tournament was adjudged Most Valuable Player of the Tournament while Eusebio of Assagao Youth Club was awarded Best Goalkeeper. Apart from the glittering trophies, the Winners and Runners-up were awarded cash prizes.

 

Anthony D’Mello, Asst. Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church was the chief guest while Mario D’Costa and Erwin of Almoayed Ford Motors were the guests of honour. 

Almoayed Motors Ford Motors were the main sponsors of the tournament. The co-sponsors were Alba, HSBC, Hannover Re Takaful, Rhine Resources, Concorde Travel, Gulf Computer Services, Pabloos, New India Assurance, Trust Re, Jazeera Airways, Selcon, Jalal Travel Agency and Air India.

The tournament held to mark the National Day of Bahrain and Goa Liberation Day was inaugurated with an impressive opening ceremony with all participating teams marching to the grounds with respective flags. National anthems of Bahrain and India were played. Francis Correia, President of the Young Goans Club welcomed the teams and later proposed a vote of thanks. Gabriel Crasto compered the entire days’ proceedings. Part of the proceeds of the tournament would be donated to Bahrain Mobility International, disclosed a source from Young Goans Club.