Kuwait: Discipline is the most important attribute needed to achieve any type of personal or athletic excellence. In football,discipline is a key element and the way a team, a player or the management acts during a match is a good indication of their character.
Self-control and behavior of some players, officials is far from desired in the ongoing ‘amateur’ Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) League being played at Bayan Grounds. Sometimes it is ridiculous to see people who are in the sport for ages failing to accept the fact that the referee is the ‘final decision-making authority on all facts connected with play’ and his decisions are final and binding.
KGA-NAGOA VERNA MAINTAIN UNBEATEN RUN:
In a closely fought encounter in drizzling rains at Bayan Grounds Friday 6th November 2015, iron-legged defence and butter-fingered goal keeping from Goa Maroons enabled KGA-Nagoa Verna maintain their unbeaten run in the league.
KGA-Nagoa took the lead through Anthony Rego and looked strong to defend it. However, Maroons were awarded a penalty in the second half by referee Bernard Fernandes for a visibly inconspicuous push inside the box that ruffled some seniors in the KGA-Nagoa camp to flip their lid.
Maroons’ Steven Rodrigues slotted home from the spot to level the scores 1-1.
The match seemed headed for a draw when Klifton Cruz scored a gem of goal for KGA-Nagoa dribbling past 3 defenders, including Maroons’ best Steven Correia who was surprisingly foxed and floored, before Klifton unleashed a powerful shot that slipped through the gloves of Maroons keeper Anthony (2-1).
Jacob Dias, Marcelino, Poly Fernandes, John Costa, Brazileo, Mario D’Souza, Leander Fernandes, Savio Faria and goalkeeper Ignatius D’Souza were excellent for KGA-Nagoa, while for Maroons left-wing back Evra, Gabriel, Zelito Cardozo and Kevin Vaz played their hearts out towards the end.
KGA-Nagoa’s Anthony Rego was awarded man-of-the-match, at the hands of Austine Abreo – P.R.O of Kuwait Indian Football Federation.
FC SPARX THRASH UNITED GOANS
United Goans Centre, the old powerhouse of Indian football in Kuwait, popularly known as UG Strikers, could not keep up to the pace of youthful FC Sparx, losing 0-4.
For Sparx, Ahmed and Hussain did much of the spadework in midfield. There were 4 different names on the scoresheet; Anas, Zaheer, Mujeeb and Jannas scored at regular intervals.
Anas was presented with the man-of-the-match at the hands of Jinu Kurien, KIFF Treasurer.
DON BOSCO HOLD DHL WITH LATE EQUALIZER
While everyone thought DHL would carry the day after star-striker Cruz Silva had put the couriers ahead with a cheeky finish, Don Bosco’s dependable hero Loyd Mascarenhas scored with a trademark freekick to level the scores 1-1. The match ended with the teams sharing a point each.
Elvis Camelo, Roy Pathrose, Roland, Vico D’Souza, Cleto Silva, Binoj, Agnelo D’Souza, Shafeeq and Alex played a brilliant game for DHL while Nikhil D’Souza, Akhshay Bhonsle, Roshan, Philip, Godfrey and Salman Mhaslai were excellent for Don Bosco.
Loyd Mascarenhas won the man of the match; he was awarded at the hands of Tony Gonsalves. A respected football stalwart involved in the game since 1976, Tony was present among the spectators. One of the founders of the now running United Goans club and also the KIFF, Tony was one of the main referees for Indian Football Referees Association; he knows the importance of discipline in football more than anyone.
It is a great honor for any player to receive an award from the hands of a disciplinarian legend such as Tony Gonsalves.
INDIAN STRIKERS AWARDED MATCH AGAINST MALABAR
The first match between two Kerala giants Malabar United FC and Indian Strikers was awarded to Indian Strikers after Malabar ‘bagged’ their second ‘warning’ letter from the federation.
As per KIFF League laws and regulations, any team that receives 2 warning letters for misconduct has to forfeit their subsequent match.
KIFF LEAGUE 2015~16
KIFF matches are officiated by KIFF-referees.
The matches for the day were officiated by Bernard Fernandes, Robert Bernard, Jerry Mello assisted by Kochumon, Rosario Colaco, Sameer and Rego.
Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) League, perhaps the only overseas Indian league, consists of 16 teams divided into 2 groups playing in a round-robin league. Top 4 teams from each group will qualify for the knockout phase of the league.
The participating clubs for the season are Goan Overseas Association, United Goans Centre, YRC Rising Stars, Navelim Youth Centre, Curtorcares United, Kuwait Goans Association-Nagoa Verna, FC Sparx, Indian Strikers FC, DHL Football Club, AVC Overseas Sports and Cultural Association, Skynet-Miracles SC, Santos United, Don Bosco Oratory, Malabar United FC, Soccer Kerala and Kerala Challengers.
KIFF Managing Committee for season 2015~16:
President – Derrick Gomindes (GOA Maroons)
Vice-President – Xavier Furtado (AVC)
Gen. Secretary – B.M. Viegas (KGA -Nagoa Verna)
Sports Secretary – Domnick Pereira (Curtorcares United)
Treasurer – JinuKurien (Kerala Challengers)
Registrar – Marshall Fernandes (YRC Rising Stars)
Asst. Sports Secretary – Claro Fernandes (DHL)
P.R.O – Austin Abreo (Skynet Miracles FC)
Executive Member – Robert Bernard (Indian Strikers)
KIFF League Fixtures for13th November 2015:
6.00am: Santos United v/s Skynet Miracles
8.00am: Curtorcares United v/s Navelim YC
9.00am: YRC Rising Stars v/s Soccer Kerala
10.00am: AVC Kuwait v/s Kerala Challengers