Kuwait: Don Bosco Oratory inscribed their name on the 1st Edition 7-aside football tournament organized by Indian Strikers Club beating Skynet Raiders with a sudden-death victory.
The tie-breaker was enforced after both teams failed to break the deadlock during regulation time.
Don Bosco’s young captain Aftab scored the all-important penaltyafter a miss by Skynet’s Nilesh Parmar. Aftab was later adjudged man of the match for his outstanding display.
Roshan and Lloyd were excellent for Don Bosco while Nilesh Parmar and Arif Shaikh shone for the runners-up.
It was a joy to see Don Bosco’s jubilant players receiving the trophy; they were dominant all throughout the tournament. Earlier in the semi-finals, Don Bosco beat Curtorcares United also in the tie-breaker; while in the quarters Lloyd scored a stunning goal to knock-out Navelim YC 1-0. Skynet Raiders beat Sparx FC in the semis by 1-0.
Champions Don Bosco Oratory included Alvaro Dias, Prajot Jaydev, Agnelo Quadros, Lloyd Mascarenhas, Roshan D’Souza, Akshan Bhonsle, Aftab (captain), Philip Duarte, Aaron Fernandes and Joshua Pinto.
Runners-up Skynet Raiders consisted of Joseph Quadros, Nilesh Parmar, Hendry Rebello, Biju Titus, Caridade D’Souza (captain), Shaheen Mekut, Reagan Fernandes, Arif Shaikh, John George, Elvis Marcelin, Leo D’Souza, and Charles D’Silva.
This is the first tournament organized by Indian Strikers Club (Kerala) headed by their key member Robert Bernard under the president-ship of Fidelis Fernandes. The tournament sponsors included Sports Star Centre, Address Shoppe, Gulam, Joseph Gomes (DHL), etc.
B M Viegas, President of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF), was chief guest at the event. Mr. Abdulla Kadari, President of KEFAC was the guest of honor.
The tournament played at Bayan Grounds involved all the 16 teams affiliated to KIFF. Matches were officiated by IFRA.
Chief guest B M Viegas, in his brief speech thanked Indian Strikers and said he was very impressed by the impressive organization and the sporting spirit shownby teams that participated. Addulla Kadari also spoke on the occasion.
Robert Bernard delivered the vote of thanks and thanked KIFF, all participating teams, players, and supporters of Indian Strikers for making the tournament a grand success.
Glittering trophies, prizes and individual prizes and gifts for the finalists were distributed at the hands of B M Viegas, Abdel Kadari, Michael Fernandes, Joseph Gomes, Sarto Baptista, Domnic Pereira (Sports Secretary of KIFF), William Stronach, Roy Jerry, etc.
Gasper Crasto compered the tournament. All images of the event were captured on camera by Julio Cardoso.
Following prizes were awarded:
Fair Play Award for the best discipline team–Curtorcares United
Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament–Joseph (Skynet Raiders)
Man of the Match –Aftab (Don Bosco Oratory)
Best Defender – Hendry Rebello(Skynet Raiders)
