18th Edition of NYC Trophy Kuwait Goans to clash with AVC :::by Gasper Crasto:::
Kuwait: 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. 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 our player Christovam who got injured in the quarter-finals, said an emotional KGA captain Vico DSouza after their match. 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, asserted AVC captain Francis Fernandes. 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 striker Liyakat Ali, no one really came close to scoring for Fahaheel. Caridade DSouza, Vico, Jacob Dias and substitute Zelito Cardozo shone for the winners in midfield play. Referee Tony DCosta 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. KGAs Zelito Cardozo was also flashed a yellow. 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 inexperienced 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 have not yet learnt from their semifinal defeat in the UG Trophy tournament with the same opponent last year. AVC dominated the match and outplayed Don Bosco in all departments of the game. Some of Don Boscos players never looked they were playing a semifinal While their stars Alex Sequiera, Roshan Dias, Diago DSouza, 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 reduced the margin 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). 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 were in fray. 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, Navelim Youth Centre have extended invitation to all member clubs affiliates and football lovers to come and witness the grand finale on Friday. Finalists: Kuwait Goans Association Martin Dias (goalkeeper), Teotonio Fernandes, Russel Rodrigues, Alex Goes, Jacob Dias, Remedious Fernandes, Vico DSouza, Rummel Dias, Caridade DSouza Andre Dias, Jimmy Goveia, Zelito Cardozo, Lourenco Cardozo, Mario DSouza, Andrew DSouza, Concecao Rodrigues A.V.C Overseas Association Alvaro Dias, Joseph Quadros, Francis Fernandes, Peter Crasto, Niasso Martin, Edward Dias, Luciano DSouza, Braulio Rodrigues, Ronny Fernandes, Vicky Bob, Kevin Vaz, Leroy Rodrigues, Savio Fernandes, Liston Raju, Nicolas Fernandes, Basher Bepari, Custodio, Milagres Barretto 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 - ?????? Links: www.goa-world.com (Gulf Goans Newsletter) www.indianfootball.com/ (January News) http://gaspersworld.tripod.com/
