By Gasper Crasto, Kuwait

Kuwait November 18, 2009: Goa Maroons President Raymond D’Sa kept his promise to sponsor the team’s tour to Bahrain after Goa Maroons were crowned K.I.F.F League Champions for the J.P. D’Mello Trophy in the Silver Jubilee year of the Kuwait Indian Football Federation.

The entire team along with the managing committee and a few ardent supporters left for Bahrain 12th of November 2009 to play in an exhibition soccer match with a select Bahrain Goans team.

In the friendly organized by the Bahrain Goans league Committee played at Al Wehda grounds against the Bahrain Goans Football League Selection, Goa Maroons emerged victorious by a hard fought 2 - 1 margin.

Heading straight to the football ground from the airport for the game, Goa Maroons fielding players of the caliber of James, Ian, Reji, etc, were caught on the wrong foot with Bahrain Goans taking the lead thanks to a blistering drive by former Sporting Clube de Goa player Succor Monteiro past a diving Julio Cardoso under the Maroons bar.

Jude, Elvis, and Terence made some positive moves for Goa Maroons towards the end of the first half, but a very strong defense with Godwin in the Bahrain goal ensured the lead was retained at the breather.

 
Raymond D'Sa and Maroons players with Bahrain's Francis Correia & G.R. Crasto

Francis Correia presenting a memento to Raymond D'Sa

Raymond D'Sa presenting a plaque

The second half however saw Maroons a rejuvenated side with the introduction of Joseph (Cookie) ably supported by Steven in midfield. With youngsters, Joe, Philip and Gaby,  they controlled the proceedings and made several attempts for the equalizer, which they eventually found through Cookie. Thereafter the battle for supremacy between Bahrain and Kuwait Goans intensified with both the teams trying to find the winning goal. Luck however favored Maroons with Cookie scoring his second goal in a goalmouth melee.

Rocky and Roy played well for the Bahrain team but could not get past a strong Maroons defense made up of Jerry, Ronald and Alex.

In a brief ceremony during the interval, Chairman of the Bahrain Goans League Committee G.R.Crasto welcomed the G.O.A Maroons team. President of Young Goans Club Francis Correia presented a memento to the visitors.

Raymond D'Sa of Goa Maroons spoke on the occasion and thanked Bahrain Goans for organizing the match and hoped it would foster friendship and goodwill between Goans in both the countries.  He also presented a memento to the organizers in appreciation for their efforts to arrange the team to visit Bahrain and especially thanked Vincent D’Souza who organized the exhibition match, while reserving a special mention for Francis Correia and  G.R. Crasto who coordinated the entire trip to  Bahrain.

The Bahrain Goans league select included players from the teams participating in the Goans seven a-side football league played under the patronage of Young Goans Club. The players were Godwin Pinto, Mauvin Afonso, Joaquim Fernandes, Cyril Barretto, Wilson Vales (Navelim); Richard D’Souza, Bruno Fernandes, Succor Monteiro (Tivim) Mathew Rodrigues, (Calangute) Inacio Vales (Nuvem); Tony Fernandes, Rocky Fernandes (Benaulim); Terence Coelho and Shane D’Souza (Baga).

GOA Maroons team comprised of Jude D’Costa, Julio Cardoso, Elvis D’Souza, Terence Carvalho, James Figueira, Ian D’Souza, Carlos D’Sa, Kennedy Ferrao, Reji Rodrigues, Joe Pereira, Philip Dias, Gaby Fernandes, Jerry Mello, Ronald Correia, Steven Correia and Alex Pinho.

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