KIFF LEAGUE COMPLETES FIRST PHASE

KIFF LEAGUE COMPLETES FIRST PHASE

KIFF LEAGUE COMPLETES 1^ST PHASE FOR LATE JP D’MELLO ROLLING TROPHY FOR SEASON 2012-2013. 8 TEAMS QUALIFY FOR QUATERFINALS.

After grueling 2 months of intense action sometimes amidst unforgivable climatic conditions, Kuwait Indian Football Federation completed the 1^st phase of its prestigious League for the Late JP D’Mello Rolling Trophy for season 2012-2013 held at the MOH Sabah grounds in Shuwaikh, Kuwait.

The League phase took off on 5^th October 2012 and culminated on 7^th December 2012. 18 clubs affiliated to KIFF for season 2012-2013 displayed their grit and determination continuously for two long months in the round robin league format to qualify for the quarterfinal knockout stage wherein only 8 teams came out trumps. 33 matches were played and 86 goals scored. 33 Man of the Match awards sponsored by Integrated Logistics were presented by different prominent personalities to the players who performed their best on the day. Housie Snowball (bingo) with a special prize of an air ticket on sector Kwt-Mum-Kwt on Jet Airways sponsored by Al Qatan Travels is carried forward to the final stage.

Indian Strikers

Real Betalbatim

The following clubs have qualified to the quarterfinal stage. Group A Indian Strikers & Real Betalbatim, Group B Navelim Youth Center and Kerala Challengers, Group C United Friends & Kuwait Goan Association, Group D AVC- Kuwait & GOA Maroons. The matches were supervised expertly by Indian Football Referees Association-Kuwait (IFRA) and most noteworthy that all matches were conducted with utmost refereeing precision applying the latest FIFA approved laws of the game. IFRA is an Indian professional refereeing body in the State of Kuwait and once of its kind in the entire Gulf region.

It may be noted that Kuwait Indian Football Federation is the only professional Indian expatriate federation in the entire Middle East conducting football activities with registered players on their rooster and also supported by GFA and AIFF. More than 300 players spanning the entire country of India ply their trade with KIFF in the current season. Elections are held every year at the AGM to elect a new managing committee which oversees the footballing activities and the current season 2012-2013 is led by Mr. Fidelis Fernandes as its President.

The second and final knockout stage will begin in May 2013 before the season ends in June 2013. KIFF introduced the fair play rules for the Fair Play Trophy to make the game more palatable to the fans and the clubs and the final results will be declared at the culmination stage in June 2013. All the matches held as of todate have been played in a true sportsmanship spirit by all the affiliates.

Navelim Youth Centre

Kuwait Goan Association

The KIFF Managing Committee for season 2012-2013 is headed by the Hon. President Mr. Fidelis Fernandes (KGA) along with Hon. Vice President Mr. Derrick Gomedes (RBFC) Hon. Gen. Secretary Mr. Praveen Kumar (Sparx) Hon. Sports Secretary Mr. Kevin Vaz (AVC) Hon. Treasurer Mr. Adly D’Lima (UG) Hon. Registrar Mr. Stevin Fernandes (DBO) Hon. P.R.O Mr. Julio Cardozo (GOA) Hon. Asst. Sports Secretary Joseph Gomes (DHL) and Hon. Reliever Mr. Seby Dias (Curtocares United)

Goa Maroons

The 18 affiliates comprises of Goan Overseas Association, United Goans Centre, YRC Rising Stars, Navelim Youth Center, CRC Chinchinim, Curtorcares United, United Friends Club, Kuwait Goans Association, FC Sparx, Indian Strikers FC,DHL Football Club, AVC Overseas Sports and Cultural Association, Skynet Raiders Soccer Club, Santos United, Don Bosco Oratory, Malabar United FC, Real Betalbatim Football Club and Kerala Challengers.

As KIFF league takes a breather till May 2013, three 11 a side tournaments, three non regular tournaments organized by different affiliates and Veterans tournament organized by KIFF and all affiliated to the Federation  will be held during this period and all the matches will take place at the MOH Al Sabah grounds.

Report by: Xavier Furtado

AVC, UFC and Indian Strikers in last eight in KIFF LEAGUE

Friday, November 30, 2012

AVC, UFC and Indian Strikers in last eight

AVC, UFC and Indian Strikers in last eight

Santos United hold Skynet Raiders in KIFF league

Santos United held mighty Skynet Raiders, while AVC Sports & Cultural Association, United Friends Club and Indian Strikers registered comfortable wins in the penultimate week of matches in the league stage of the KIFF league for the J.P. D’Mello Trophy organized by Kuwait Indian Football Federation and played last Friday at the MOH Grounds in Shuwaikh.

In an important qualification match, AVC overwhelmed CRC Chinchinim 6-0 in a largely one sided match that both teams had to win to qualify for the quarterfinal stage.  Strong title contenders, AVC took complete control of the match right from the start with Liston Raju along with Vincy controlling and dictating terms in the defense.  In form Kevin Vaz, Savio Fernandes, Anthony Rodrigues, Reagen, Sydney Monteiro and Melwin scored to ensure AVC who have the same points as Goa Maroons, topped group D on better goal difference.  Diminutive Sydney Monteiro   was declared Man of the Match and received his award sponsored by Integrated Logistics Company, from the hands of ex-Salgaocar player Pascoal Fernandes.  

  

In the second match at 8:15am, DHL FC, last year’s runners-up, needing only a draw in group C went down fighting to a strong United Friends club (UFC) 0-2.  In the group of death which also featured last year’s champions Don Bosco Oratory who failed to qualify, UFC needed a win to ensure progress to the next round and ever dependable Remedio put them in the lead in the first half when towered above the DHL defense and headed brilliantly of a corner kick taken by new signing Elvis.  John Kennedy added a second when the DHL keeper misjudged his shot from just outside the penalty area.  DHL came back strongly in the second half, with Binoj and Terence playing their hearts out, but it was the ever dependable Martin Dias in the UFC goal who stood in their way. Martin who pulled off at least three important saves was declared man of the match and received his award from Pravin Kumar the President of Sparks Football Club.

          

Shaun Pereira and Peter D’souza were the stars for Santos United who went on to secure a famous 2-2 draw  against their more fancied opponents Skynet Raiders.  Skynet Raiders needing a win to have any chance of qualification for the next stage were in for a surprise when the very talented Shaun Pereira put Santos United in the lead in the first half after a dazzling solo run.  Dominic of Skynet equalized, but Santos United took the lead again through Peter D’Souza.  Just when it seemed that Santos United would secure full points, Manual Dçosta found the unexpected equalizer for Skynet Raiders when his cross was fumbled by Santos keeper and the ball slipped into the goal.  The draw meant that Skynet Raiders and Santos United both failed to qualify in group B.  Young Shaun Pereira was declared the man of the match and received his award from Mr. V. K. Vohra, the ex-president of KIFF.

In the last match of the day, Indian Strikers shocked Curtorcares United 2-0 in an engaging match that effectively ended the campaign of Curtorcares United in group A.  Needing at least a draw, Curtorcares United missing a few important players who are on vacation were no match for the strong and skilful Indian Strikers.  Lawrence and Haris Kunnammal scored for Indian Strikers.  Aivey Kochappiley of Indian Strikers who was a constant threat to the Curtorcares defense was rightly awarded the Man of the Match Award and received it from Tome Gracias , an important patron of soccer activates in Kuwait.

Coming Friday, 7/12/2012, the last match between Kerala Challengers and Skynet Raiders will be played at 6:30am to decide the finals standings in group B .  The eight teams that have now qualified for the knock out stage are: Group A: Indian Strikers and Real Betalbatim, Group B: Kerala Challengers and Navelim Youth Centre, Group C: United Friends Club and Kuwait Goan Association, Group D: AVC and Goa Maroons.  Friday will also see the start of the KIFF affiliated  United Goans Centre  regular eleven a side tournament with the inaugural match being played between Goa Maroons and Santos United at 8:30am followed by Navelim Youth Centre versus Don Bosco Oratory at 10:15am.   

Report by:-

Julio Cardoso

Kuwait

KIFF LEAGUE SEASON 2012 - 2013
STANDINGS AS ON 30/11/2012
GROUP A
NO	TEAM	PLAYED	WON	DREW	LOST	GOALS FOR	GOALS AGAINST	DIFF	POINTS
1	INDIAN STRIKERS FC	4	2	2	0	6	3	3	8
2	REAL BETALBATIM FC	4	2	2	0	4	2	2	8
3	CURTORCARES UNITED	4	2	1	1	4	2	2	7
4	UNITED GOANS CENTRE	4	1	0	3	2	6	-4	3
5	MALABAR UNITED FC	4	0	1	4	2	5	-3	1
GROUP B
NO	TEAM	PLAYED	WON	DREW	LOST	GOALS FOR	GOALS AGAINST	DIFF	POINTS
1	NAVELIM YOUTH CENTRE	4	3	0	1	14	6	8	9
2	KERALA CHALLENGERS	3	3	0	0	6	1	5	9
3	SKYNET RAIDERS SC	3	1	1	1	8	5	3	4
4	SANTOS UNITED	4	0	2	2	5	11	-6	2
5	YRC RISING STARS	4	0	1	3	1	11	-10	1
GROUP C
NO	TEAM	PLAYED	WON	DREW	LOST	GOALS FOR	GOALS AGAINST	DIFF	POINTS
1	UNITED FRIENDS CLUB	3	1	2	0	3	1	2	5
2	KUWAIT GOAN ASS.	3	1	2	0	2	1	1	5
3	DHL FOOTBALL CLUB	3	1	0	2	1	4	-3	3
4	DON BOSCO ORATORY	3	0	2	1	1	2	-1	2
GROUP D
NO	TEAM	PLAYED	WON	DREW	LOST	GOALS FOR	GOALS AGAINST	DIFF	POINTS
1	AVC SPORTS & CULT. ASS	3	2	1	0	13	2	11	7
2	GOA MAROONS	3	2	1	0	7	2	5	7
3	CRC CHINCHINIM	2	1	0	1	3	6	-3	3
4	FC SPARX	3	0	0	3	2	9	-7	0