AVC – Kuwait sponsored by Kuwait Transcontinental Shipping Co (KTS) has been crowned as KIFF Season's Champions for season 2007-2008. This is AVC's 3rd title in the last 4 seasons and hence finished once again as the premier club of Kuwait Indian Football Federation. This season AVC – Kuwait has played 17 games in the regular tournaments scoring a staggering 38 goals and collecting 10 points to win the championship. In fact AVC narrowly missed the double (KIFF league) by losing out to a team which is ranked a distant 5th in the KIFF standings. This was a match AVC were considered favorites to win as AVC came into the final without loosing a single match in the league phase compared to their Opponents who literally scraped through into the second phase and into the final on sheer lady luck also AVC had beaten the same opposition comprehensively time and again in the last four to five seasons hands down, but were undone due to overconfidence and erratic shooting in the penalty shoot out and not due to any serious opposition brilliance. It was a grueling season this year and to come out as Season Champions AVC showed their usual grit and consistency. Most of the top clubs show promise during the start of the season and fade out towards the end due to injuries and indisposition to top players and this is an advantage for teams which get booted out in the first or second round in the regular tournaments to win the KIFF league as they are almost fresh compared to the first three teams in the standings which play regular football. To become seasons champions a club has to play an average of 15 games continuously whereas in the league a total of 6 games are played and that too three in the 1st phase and three in the second phase. This year the top three teams of KIFF were AVC – Kuwait (10 points), KGA (8 points) and Goa Maroons (8 points) who have played 38 matches in between them and have been consistent throughout. AVC has also been awarded the KIFF Fair Play Trophy for season 2007-2008. It may be also noted that AVC- Kuwait is the only Indian expatriate team from Kuwait to win an outstation football tournament in the Middle East (Bahrain), a record yet to be equaled. AVC – Kuwait comprises of players from all over India, with the home state of Goa dominating the numbers. It is a young and experienced side which has lived up to expectations since its inception in 2001. Veteran players like Alvaro, Edward, Vincy and Francis Sr. have drawn wrath from mindless and toothless opposition for their grit and mesmerizing football. Young guns comprising of Francis Jr, Peter, Joseph, Ronny, Braulio, Liston, Luciano, Jose, Custodio, Savio, Melvy, Nicholas, Molvit and others have earned praise from fans and critics for their skill and determination. Besides the seasons championship AVC has won the KIFF league in 2004-2005, a year they bagged the double which also is a rare achievement in terms of consistency. Though the management and the players align to different foreign teams in terms of fan following, AVC - Kuwait was termed as Real Madrid of Kuwait by some quarters. The management and players of AVC-Kuwait would like to thank KIFF, supporters and all football loving fans for a wonderful season. Hope to repeat the performance in 2009. Winners & Losers and arrogant Players Reply to the report dated 24/07/2008 on goa-world.com In recent reports on the electronic media compiled by one unethical football player and the self confessed sports writer (Mr. Gasper Crasto) on certain AVC players being arrogant and stating that they come from lower strata of society, AVC would like to ask the writer and inform the general public about the writer who in his whole life have been a scorn of hatred and scandals for his misdeeds which not many people in this part of the world are aware of. Ethics are thought at home and in football winning and loosing is part of the game, and when somebody is on a podium or in a public forum he should know to respect his fellow opponent. The writer before pointing out a finger to others and calling them arrogant should look, dig deep into his own conscience and reflect as to how many unethical standards he himself has been involved, right from his playing days to the time when he was associated with the SAG, so much so that when he was playing for Salgoacars in the Rovers cup, he left the Salgoacar Football Team midway and flew directly into Kuwait without even informing his own mother. What can be the reason Mr. Gasper? You and we know that very well. The villagers of Carmona were out to finish you for the reason best known to them and to you. We also know this reason very well Mr. Gasper. What happened in December 2003 in your ward? You and we know that very well Mr. Gasper. AVC as well NYC went to Dubai in 2004 to play in an invitational football tournament. How and why did you land in Abu Dhabi? You and we know that very well Mr. Gasper. Coming to soccer and discipline on and off the field, this so called sports writer is the most arrogant of the lot. Two years back he removed his jersey on the playing field thereby showing openly what discipline and what strata of society he comes from. In recent days this so called reputable sports writer and player is seen moving with alcohol on fridays at the grounds and openly drinking in his car. He is setting a very good example to our youngsters and he speaks about discipline. What strata of society is this Mr. Gasper. Mr. Gasper you state one of our senior players was screaming on the field like a middle-aged fisherwoman. Your club has got one of the worst loud mouth on the field and you know that very well. In fact his mouth plays louder than his soccer. What strata of society he comes from Mr. Gasper ? The writer alleges that in AVC – Kuwait no one understands the ethics of football except our coach Alvaro Dias. For information AVC has been awarded the KIFF Fair play trophy this season. Since our inception till to date we have not received a single letter from KIFF for warning or suspension. If NYC understands better football than others than why have they received warning letters in the past? Check the facts before writing. In your report you pointed out that in one of the photos AVC is receiving the runners up trophy from the KIFF president. In fact it is the seasons champions trophy received by our captain Francis Jr. and coach Alvaro. Photos do not lie Mr. Gasper but people with sick mind like you do. If records are to be pulled out from the closets and if at all NYC has won major trophies in Kuwait it is exclusively during the tenure of these 2 Players who single handedly bore the onus of midfield and defense in the NYC team from the period 1994-2002. Mr. Gasper was instrumental in introducing our star Central Defender Vincy to AVC in 2004, as without NYC knowledge he came over to one of the executive member's house and the events which transpired then are known to Gasper and AVC till to date. Mr. Gasper why did you do this to your own club. And you state he has been ejected by your club. Ask your elite members how many times in recent history he has been approached by them to come back. We have the facts to prove that. Mr. Gasper Crasto has personal grudge on these two players because they are not dancing to his whims and fancies. You state that one of the players was ransomed from a Kuwaiti house. We want to ask Mr. Gasper whether he or his club were in any way responsible in getting him out of the house. People come to this part of the world to earn a decent living, but you came here to escape the harsh realities of your personal life. In AVC we always thought you had a good relationship with us as you have written so many write ups on AVC's achievement in the past and we complimented you for that, but we never thought that you secretly wear on your sleeves the saying "Snake in the grass'' This is just the beginning of your exposure to the general public. We do not get involved in mudslinging unless we are forced to the limit and you have done that. You started the war of words and we will not call for a ceasefire. Watch out for more as we come full throttle and for your kind information we have a full dossier on you. Compiled by AVC Managing Committee
