By Gasper Crasto, Kuwait

Kuwait Jan 21: Kuwait Goans Association (KGA) scored a convincing 2-0 victory over Fahaheel Brothers while AVC Overseas Association hammered Don Bosco Oratory 4-1 in the semifinals of the 18th NYC Trophy played at Salmiya Grounds.

Kuwait Goans sponsored by Siemens will now lock horns with AVC in the finals on Friday, 25th January 2008 at Salmiya Municipality grounds (behind Salmiya Co-operative) starting 8.30am.

AVC Overseas Association

It is moment of pride for both teams to be in a prestigious final. Kuwait Goans established in 2005 has shown tremendous progress in the tournament. "We want to win the Trophy...we shall win it for Christovam, our player who got injured in the quarter-finals," said an emotional KGA captain Vico D’Souza.

AVC Overseas Association are in the forefront of Indian football for the past few years now. Since winning the Expatriate Overseas Championship held at Bahrain in 2004,  AVC have won a number of tournaments. They hold a strange record of losing the last 3 consecutive finals of the NYC Trophy. "We will definitely break the jinx this time," promised AVC captain Francis Fernandes after the semi-final victory. 

KGA were on top after taking the lead off a superb goal by striker Andre Dias from outside the box. He added another one to his tally five minutes from end. Andre tops the scoring list with 7 goals in the tournament. Except for Fahaheel Brothers striker Liyakat Ali, no one really came close to scoring. Caridade D’Souza, Vico, Jacob Dias and substitute Zelito Cardozo shone for the winners in midfield play.

Referee Tony D’Costa did not allow any close contact between players, at times he was too harsh to carry on with the game, pulling fouls which were not there. He flashed yellow cards to Fahaheel Brothers’ Sulaiman and Riyaz for dangerous play. KGA’s Zelito Cardozo was also flashed with a yellow.

Captains of KGA and AVC

The other semi-final started on a high, Don Bosco fighting to be in the finals for the first time. However, AVC defense marshaled by captain Francis and Joseph Quadros was too strong for the inexperience of Don Bosco. The less said about Don Bosco team the better. One thing, the youngsters have to learn much not to concede a goal before venturing out to score -- especially in a semifinal of a prestigious tournament – where not many teams get to reach that top. It looks they never learnt from their semifinal defeat in the UG Trophy tournament to the same opponent last year. AVC dominated the match and outplayed Don Bosco in all departments of the game. Some of Don Bosco’s players never looked they were playing a semifinal. While their stars Alex Sequiera, Roshan Dias, Diago D’Souza, Custodio Ataide, Ratan Dogra, etc existed in the match, Steven Rodrigues was the lone fighter running tirelessly throughout the match. Vicky Bob (2 goals), Peter Crasto and Leroy Rodrigues scored for AVC. Substitue Phillip Duarte pulled one back for Don Bosco in the dying minutes of the match.

The tournament organized by Navelim Youth Centre (NYC) is played under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) and officiated by Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA).

IFRA Referees Tony D'Costa, Richard Dixon and Sarto Baptista

The NYC Trophy, perhaps one of the most uniquely sculpt trophies worldwide was instituted in the year 1993. Nineteen teams registered with Kuwait Indian Football Federation participated in this year’s tournament.  Last edition of the trophy was won by DHL beating AVC 2-0 in the finals. Host Navelim have won the trophy maximum 6 times followed by G.O.A Maroons – 5 times.

Meanwhile, the Managing Committee of Navelim Youth Centre has extended invitation to all member clubs, affiliates and football lovers to come and witness the grand finale.

Following clubs have won the Trophy since 1999-2000:

1999-2000 - Navelim Y. Centre 
2000-01 - Colva United 
2001-02 - Colva United
2002-03 - Navelim Y. Centre
2003-04 - Bombay Boys
 2004-05 - Curtorcares United 
2005 - 06  - GOA Maroons 
2006 – 07 - DHL Kuwait
2007 – 08 - ??????

Finalists

Kuwait Goans Association

Martin Dias (goalkeeper), Teotonio Fernandes, Russel Rodrigues, Alex Goes, Jacob Dias, Remedious Fernandes, Vico D’Souza, Rummel Dias, Caridade D’Souza, Andre Dias, Jimmy Goveia, Zelito Cardozo, Lourenco Cardozo, Mario D’Souza, Andrew D’Souza, Concecao Rodrigues

A.V.C Overseas Association

Alvaro Dias, Joseph Quadros, Francis Fernandes, Peter Crasto, Niasso Martin, Edward Dias, Luciano D’Souza, Braulio Rodrigues, Ronny Fernandes, Vicky Bob, Kevin Vaz, Leroy Rodrigues, Savio Fernandes, Liston Raju, Nicolas Fernandes, Basher Bepari, Custodio, Milagres Barretto

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