J.P.DMELLO ROLLING TROPHY
INDIAN STRIKERS AND NAVELIM YOUTH CENTRE IN FINALSunil Chhetri to grace finals at Al-Qadsyia Stadium.
Navelim Youth Centre trashed United Friends Club 5-0 and Indian Strikers edged Goa Maroons 2-0 in semi-finals of KIFF league for the J.P. D’Mello Trophy organized by Kuwait Indian Football Federation and played last Friday at the MOH Grounds in Shuwaikh. The final of this prestigious year long tournament played under the auspices of KIFF and officiated by the Indian Football Referees Association will be held at the Qadsyia Stadium on Friday, 14th June 2013 at 6:00pm. The tournament is sponsored by Gulf Cable Electrical Industries Company.
In the first semi-final, Navelim Youth Centre boosted by the presence of playmakers Bernardo Pires and Sanford Cardoz in midfield and backed by the likes of Duarte Ferrao and Alfred Pires in defense have jelled well as the season has progressed and have peaked at the right time making them firm favorites against Indian Strikers FC the first Keralite team to play the final of the KIFF league. United Friends Club who have featured regularly in the last four had no answer to the Navelim onslaught with man of the match Simao Gauncar feeding his teammates to score at will. Sanford scored the first from a goalmouth melee and Bernardo made it 2-0 when he latched on to a sublime pass from Simao to score one of the goals of the tournament. Bernardo scored again and Cruzedio and Joaquim completed the rout. The match was officiated by Philip Ferrao in the centre and assisted by Francis and Alvaro on the lines. Franky Sequeira a former KIFF member on a visit to Kuwait gave away the Man of the Match trophy to Simao Gaunkar of NYC.
In the second semi-final, former champions Goa Maroons were left ruing the numerous chances missed in the first half by their forwards Joe Gomes and Durvesh as Indian Strikers scored just before half time when their star forward Amasameen struck from a counter attack to send shockwaves in the Maroons camp. Anthony Adimai and Roy Pathroso playing their hearts out literally took Maroons out of the equation when Anasameen scored again in the 10th minute of the second half from a brilliant back heel pass by Biju. Goa Maroons missing the presence of Steven Rodrigues, who was out with two yellow cards have only themselves to blame as chance after chance went begging. Young Cleevan DÇunha, Larry and Roger coming in as second half substitutes failed to make a difference for Goa Maroons and in the end Indian Strikers FC won comfortably. The match was officiated by Sarto Baptista and he was ably assisted by Christopher Fernandes and Vincent Pereira on the lines. Anasameen was declared Man of the Match and received his award from Xavier Furtado the Vice President of AVC Sports and Cultural Association.
The finals between Navelim Youth Centre and Indian Strikers promises to be an exciting affair with a buildup of the Goa versus Kerala angle and is expected to be well attended with both teams having tremendous support and will be played on 14/6/2013 at the Al-Qadsyia Stadium (Hawally) at 6:00pm. The final will be graced by H.E the ambassador of India to Kuwait Shri Satish C. Mehta as the chief guest, Mr. Naser Omran Kanan of Gulf Cable Electrical Industries as the guest of honor and flamboyant and popular soccer star and India football team captain Sunil Chettri. .
Report by:-
Julio Cardoso
Kuwait