URRAK WIN PATRICK MEMORIAL 7 A SIDE TOURNAMENT

Urrak lifted the glittering Patrick Santimino Memorial Seven A Side trophy when they beat DHL 3-2 via tie-breaker in the final of the 2nd edition of this prestigious tournament organized under the umbrella of Salmyia Friends Community and played at the Salmiya Ground in memory of late Patrick Santimino a well known sports personality and legend of Soor Ground.

The tournament was played on the 30th of September (first day of Eid) from 7:30am onward with the continuous support of IFRA (Indian Football Referees Association), friends, well-wishers and sports lovers, attracted a record 18 teams including some of the reputed and experienced teams registered with KIFF (Kuwait Indian Football Federation).

As the tournament progressed, a few shocking results in the early matches was seen with powerful CRC (A) being knocked out by the well experienced Santos in group A and DHL (Red) losing to Navelim Sports Club in group B. In addition, some of the renowned teams found themselves knocked out of the tournament by loosing in the tie breaker in the first round of the tournament. As the games progressed, the best teams qualified through to the Semi-finals with Santos playing DHL (Yellow) and URAK playing Ruthless.

In exiting semi final matches both the finalist showed their skills and experience to reach the finals, DHL (Yellow), winning by 2 goals against Santos and URAK winning by the same margin against Ruthless.

Being the best team of the day and playing with the oldest and most experienced goalkeeper Mr. Julio Cardoso, URRAK played an outstanding game till the end of the match to win the 2nd Patrick Memorial Trophy - 2008. Julio Cardoso, who was later declared man of the match as well as best goalkeeper of the tournament, stole the limelight by showing his reflexes and experience by defending the Goal with flying saves throughout the game and the tournament. DHL (Yellow) on the other hand also defended well with Carlos playing a superb game ably assisted by Joaquim Pillai in the Goal. The game ended goalless and the tie breaker had to be resorted, which Urrak won 3-2.

The followings prizes were given during the prize ceremony: -

1. First goal of the Tournament: - Mr. Judas Fernandes (Santos)
Given By: - Mr. Judas Fernandes

2. First goal of the Finals: - Mr. Steven Rodrigues (URRAK)
Given By: -
3. Last Scorer of the Tournament: - Mr. Vicky (URRAK)
Given By: -
4. Semi-Finalists of the Tournament: - Santos and Ruthless
Given By: -

5. Highest Scorer of the Tournament: - Mr. Andrew (DHL (Yellow)
Given By: -

6. Best Defender: - Mr. Carlos (DHL (Yellow)
Given By: -

7. Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament: - Mr. Julio Cardoso (URRAK)
Given By: - Mr. Jerry Desouza Mello

8. Man of the Match: - Mr. Julio Cardoso (URRAK)
Given By: - Mr.

9. Oldest Player of the tournament: - Mr. (Jolly Boys)
Given By: - Mr.

10. Youngest Player of the tournament: - Mr. Brandon (Ruthless)
Given By: -

11. Runners – Up DHL (Yellow)
Given By: -

12. Winners : - URRAK
Given By: -

The prize distribution ceremony was conducted by well known compere Lloyd D’Souza who entertained the crowd present during the occasion. Mr. Manual D'costa proposed the vote of thanks, especially thanking all the teams, friends and soccer fans who braved the scorching summer sun to watch the games. The organizers, Salmiya Friends Community are particularly grateful to IFRA (Indian Football Referees Association) sponsors and well wishers for their continuous support in making the tournament a great success.

Galgibaga - By tony Martins

My Village, My peoplePicture a small paradise. Calm, serene with an emptybeach lined by casuarinas trees, two parallel rivers,a patch of lush green fields and two communitiesliving in perfect harmony. That is Galgibaga inCanacona, South Goa, a secret enclave sandwichedbetween the Arabian Sea and a tiny hillock. Passed over completely by the sands of time, Galgibagabeach is ideally a poet’s delight and a Philosopher’sretreat for its mystical and meditative ambience. Itoffers a breath of fresh air to city-weary souls inthe warm embrace of nature.“It’s a paradise,” says Orest Kap, a German painter“It’s something to be felt and experienced. It is anindividual experience, to verbalize it is to limitit.” If you come to our village you won’t have the heart toleave it if only you see the wonderful estuary andhear the endless vast ocean making amazing music oflove for the villagers and at times beating drums ofwar in all its ferocity for anybody who dares toviolate it.If you come to our village you won’t have the heart toleave it if only you see the lovely cottages of finearchitecture resting amidst slender coconut trees andpalms that sway gently to an unknown rhythm.If you come to our village you won’t have the heart toleave it if only you lie a while on the soft bed ofpines of the Casuarinas (trees) that dot the Galgibagacoast. If you come to our village you won’t have the heart toleave it if only you venture into the river on a finemoonlit evening with a bottle of feni or urak on atiny canoe for that mysterious over-the-moon feeling.If you come to our village you will not have the heartto leave without a glimpse of an Olive Ridley turtlecrawling majestically on the singing sands ofGalgibaga.If you come to our village you will not have the heartto leave it if only you meet its people. Their warmth,hospitality and charm will wrap you in a spell that ishard to break. And their courage is legendary. When aChinese ship wrecked on the shores of Galgibaga with athunderous bang in the wee hours of a day in June 1960the daring villagers unmindful of the monsoon fury ofthe waves ventured into the sea and managed to rescuesome of the crew. The wreck, seen better during lowtide, bears testimony to that heroic moment. If you come to our village you will not have the heartto leave only if you come. But don’t forget Galgibagais like a lovely rose hence there are bound to be somethorns around. And the rose would not be half asbeautiful as it is without the thorns. Can the dayhave any meaning without the night? Don’t be shocked when you hear Ladrus and Pedrusexchanging choice obscenities at dawn. For at sunsetyou’ll be as surprised to see them coolly sipping fenitogether in a pub. Just like the best pals in theworld. Obscenities are as much a part of Galgibaga asare the gentle roaring beats of the ocean and thesinging sands. And there are a few Jakis and Jakins who have theperennial habit of talking about others. Who is withwhom and whose wife has plans to elope with whosehusband and so on. And there is Tom who feels that heis the President of the States because his neighbourthinks that he is the Prime Minister of India. All thesame it adds to the spice. And yet not all is well with this paradise. If youcome to our village you would not have the heart toleave it without a tinge of sorrow pulling at yourheart when you look at the small hillock just behindSt Anthony’s High School. A hillock that had remaineda witness to all generations. It had stood there forhundreds and hundreds of summers and nobody coulddoubt that it would always be there from now toeternity. But today there is very little left of thehillock. The serpentine Konkan Railway has almosteaten it up. The hillock lies bleeding and torn intoshreds. With an amputed look it feels naked, strippedof its grandeur and beauty. Galgibaga now has the brow of many aneco-conservationist and others clouding with worry asthe virgin territory, Galgibaga beach is invaded bybeach sharks (Shacks). This, despite the fact that thebeach is a protected area for turtle nesting and seesthe hatching of over 3000 eggs every year.A villager expressing his apprehension says, beachshacks can only make our beloved Galgibaga anotherhaven of sun, sand, wine, women and sex for thehippies who have nothing to offer us except drugs,nudism, a philosophy of free-love, sex and AIDS. Beach shacks or no shacks the rape of this unspoiltchild of Mother Nature is imminent.If you treasure any fantasies of visiting this shadowland of dreams, pack you bags and get going today.Tomorrow this wonderful place may well go into theoblivion of history as another paradise lost.

Astrid's birthday

Our good friend Astrid celebrated her birthday at the new Sachi's restaurant along with her husband Clifford and special invitees, Zinia, Mandy, Val and me. It was a nice evening and a new dining experience for Zinia (Japanese susi). This is what we had:-

Starters: Green Salad, Salmon balls,

Main course: Chicken a la grillo, Maki platter, shazwan rice,

Dessert: Ice cream

We missed Terry as he was in Australia with wify & kids and Lloyd could not make it.

Julio's 50th Birthday bash

After initial hesitation, I consented to celebrate by 50th birthday at the Royal Terrasse Restaurant in Salmiya on the 10th of April 2008. At least 4

Meetings were held at the Restaurant prior to the party and the program chalked out.

The party was really grand and will be remembered for a long time by me as well as the invitees.

Some of the highlights:-

- Lloyd, my best friend (disputable) hosted the party. The over 100 guests were divided into 4 teams (orange, yellow, green & pink) and besides dancing we had games for the adults, children and teenagers.

- At 12:01am we celebrated Lloyd's and Blossom birthdays as well, as both of them were born on the 11th of April.

- Goa Maroons Committee decided to honour me with a plaque.. the thought was appreciated.

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