Bruno Coutinho to grace KIFF finals in Kuwait

KIFF LEAGUE 2012

NAVELIM YC, DON BOSCO, DHL FC AND UFC IN SEMIS

BRUNO COUTINHO TO GRACE FINALS

Bruno Coutinho - Star Indian Soccer player

Exciting news for Indian soccer enthusiasts as India’s soccer icon former India captain and Arjuna awardee Bruno Coutinho is due to visit Kuwait from the 13^th of June 2012 for a week  on the invitation of  the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) .  During his visit to Kuwait, Coutinho who was arguably one of India’s best soccer players,   will be felicitated on 14^th June at a special function for KIFF affiliates and  invitees and will also be the guest of honor  for the KIFF League final scheduled on the 15^th of June 2012 at a venue to be announced shortly.

Bruno receiving the Arjuna Award from President A. J Kalam

 Hailing from the famous beach side village of Calangute in Goa, Bruno Coutinho who currently holds the position of Jt. Director of the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) is a true soccer icon and a source of inspiration to all Indians and Goans in particular.  In a career spanning over 14 years Bruno has become an integral and inseparable part of  Indian football and his exploits at home and abroad have brought him many awards and recognition, culminating in receiving the second highest sports award in India ‘The Arjuna Award’.   

Bruno who studied in the famous Monte De Guirim high school in Goa where sports was given equal preference with academics, first played for India in a school tournament at Brunei in 1987 before joining Dempo Engineering, a hub for nurturing budding soccer players  in 1988.  From there he moved to another prominent club Salgaoncars where he played for most of his career and won many accolades   for himself and his team.  Bruno’s association with Salgaoncar  resulted in his team winning the Federation cub in 1997, Rovers Cup in 1989, 1996, Taca Goa title in 1989 and the National Football League in 1998.  His association with the Indian national soccer team lasted more than a decade including captaining the team.  

Bruno Coutinho

Bruno comes across as a pretty simple and down to earth person.  His sports dreams are big for Goa and with the new BJP Government elevating Soccer to the level of ‘State Sport’, he feels that things are moving in the right direction to promote the sports at the grass root level. 

The KIFF LEAGUE conducted for Indians in Kuwait has 19 affiliate members, and the semi-finals slated for Friday 8^th June 2012 will feature four of Kuwait’s top teams battling it out for a spot in the finals.  United Friends Club play DHL FC at 6:30am and Navelim YC take on  Don Bosco at 8:00am.  The matches will be played at the Ministry of Health ground , Shuwaikh.

 DHL v/s UFC at 6:30am

Navelim YC v/s Don Bosco at 8:00am

Julio Cardoso - Kuwait

GOA ROLLING TROPHY - Navelim YC and Skynet Raiders SC to clash in finals

G.O.A ROLLING TROPHY

Skynet Raiders SC and Navelim YC in finals

Navelim , stand in keeper Alfred Pires saves a penalty to put his team in the finals

Navelim YC came good in the tie-breaker lottery edging AVC & CA after twice coming back from the jaws of defeat in a pulsating match that had ended in a 2-2 draw and Skynet Raiders SC also made it to their first ever final edging mighty Goa Maroons in similar fashion when the game was tied  1-1 in the semi finals of the 18th edition of the G.O.A Rolling Trophy organized by Goan Overseas Association (Goa Maroons) under the auspices of KIFF and sponsored by Bassem International Trading Company at the MOH ground, Shuwaikh (Kuwait).  

In a scrappy encounter which saw tampers flying all around; Braulio Rodrigues gave AVC the lead in the 10^th minute of the first half after combining well with the young and talented Kevin Vaz who this season has caught the eye.   However, Cruzedio of Navelim continuing his good form in this tournament equalized much to the delight of the Navelim members and supporters who are this year celebrating 25 years of the club’s existence, only for Anthony Rodrigues to give AVC the lead once again after a well worked move with Malwin.   The second half was sea-saw battle with the Canacona lad Savio Fernandes playing brilliantly in the AVC midfield and his precise crosses nearly took the game away from Navelim, but for poor finishing by their forwards. 

Navelim on the other hand, marshaled by the elegant Bernardo Pires, soaked in the pressure and were lucky to get the equalizer in the dying minutes of the game when one of the AVC defenders handled the ball and referee Victor Andrade had no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot.  Duarte Ferrao ensured the game went into extra time when he clinically scored from the penalty spot, to end the game 2-2.  In the ensuing tie-breaker Gasper Crasto, Bernard Pires, Ryan Lewis and Alfred Pires scored for Navelim. Americo's penalty was saved by AVC goalkeeper Alvaro Dias. Navelim stand-in keeper Alfred Pires saved a penalty while AVC hit their penultimate kick on the crossbar.  Only Anthony and Nicholas could find the net for AVC.

Navelim YC winners in tie breaker

AVC & CA unfortunate to lose in tie breaker

In the second semi final, injury plagued Goa Maroons without some of their star players were barraged with a series of attacks from Skynet Raiders SC right from the start, but after a barren first half, it was Maroons who opened the scoring through hard working Bonny Niasso when in a sudden counter move, he worked past three defenders to slot past a diving Francis Monteiro in the Skynet goal. With the game slipping from their hands, Skynet Raiders responded with frantic raids and were unlucky twice with the wood-work coming to Goa Maroons rescue. Dominic and Alex defended very well for Skynet Raiders and just when it was looking like Maroons would scrape through, Sathyarag Mohan scored when the ball rebounded off the crossbar to his feet from a 25 yard shot taken by substitute Tiago.

Skynet Raiders in their first final after winning in tiebreaker

Goa Maroons lost in the tie breaker

Extra time remained goalless with players from both the teams visibly tired from the extremely hot and dusty conditions and in the ensuing penalty shootout, Monteiro saved Bonny’s   kick to ensure Skynet Raiders SC first ever entry in the  final of  the prestigious tournament.

The finals are slated for Friday, 1^st June 2012 at 8:00am (sharp) and Mr. Charles D’Sa the General Manager of Bassem International Company will be the chief guest.

Julio Cardoso- Kuwait

Alex of Goa Maroons going for the header

Action shot - NYC vs AVC

tampers flying high in the heat

action shot AVC vs NYC

English version of Goa Shrimp and Eggplant curry

Now if you assume that my life in Kuwait basically centers around sports, control of the TV remote and generally  making life difficult for my wife...you are spot on.  However, let me state modestly that I do have one good quality and that is I visit the kitchen sometimes....Practically every Friday I prepare the fish curry at home.  Of course, if you tell this to my wife, she will tell you 'Ask him who cleans the fish, and washes the utensils  after the cooking is done'..... but that's another story altogether.

Prawn & eggplant curry prepared by me

Recently I came across this very simple recipe prepared by an Englishman and decided to try it out, just to break from the usual routine of preparing my mum's fish curry recipe.  I am sharing it with you cause it's very simple and you might even like it.

This is how it looked on my plate...Yum!!

I prepared it last Friday  and it turned out pretty nice.  The taste is slightly different from our normal prawn curry and you should keep the gravy a little thick so it can be enjoyed with the rice and pickle or even Kubs.   Take it easy on the chilies if you do not want it to be too spicy.

Goan Shrimp and Eggplant Curry

* 2 Tablespoons oil
* 1 small yellow onion, chopped
* 4 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon cayenne (chillie powder)
* 1 teaspoon ground coriander
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
* 1 cup canned diced tomatoes in their juice
* 3 small Japanese eggplant, cut in half lengthwise and then into1/2-inch chunks
* 2 small Serrano chile peppers, cut in half lengthwise (big chillies)
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
* 13.5-ounce can coconut milk
* 1-1/2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
* 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (coriander / parsley)

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook until softened.  Add the garlic, cayenne, coriander, cumin, and turmeric and cook, stirring frequently, for one minute.  Add the tomato and tomato juice and cook until the tomato has almost completely broken down; use the back of a wooden spoon to help break up the pieces of tomato, if necessary.

Add the eggplant, chile peppers, salt and mix well.  Cover and reduce heat to low; cook until the eggplant has softened, about 7-8 minutes.  Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, just until the shrimp turns pink.  Add the coconut milk and simmer gently until the coconut sauce is hot and the shrimp has cooked through.  Remove from heat and stir in the apple cider vinegar.  Top with the chopped cilantro and serve atop a bed of rice... brown basmati is a particularly nice match. 

Serves four to six.