Labels

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

DISAPPOINTING KIFF AFFILIATES…


The Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) Soccer season featuring 16 Indian expatriate teams that began in early September 2013 finally came to a close on 30th May 2014 after nine grueling months of intense competition for the KIFF League championship and various eleven and seven a side tournaments conducted under the auspices of KIFF.   AVC Sports & Cultural Association was proudly crowned champions of the season as well as KIFF league champions and thoroughly deserved all the accolades they got.  Due to the extreme heat in Kuwait during the next three months, the teams will take a break and be back for the new season in early September 2014.

The final match between AVC  Sports & Cultural Association from Goa and Malabar United from Kerala was played at the Al-Qadsyia Stadium and  was a grand affair with KIFF sparing no effort and expense to ensure the season finale was worthy of its name.  Without a doubt, KIFF is easily one of the biggest Indian organizations in Kuwait registered with the Embassy of India and featuring sixteen affiliates with a constitution and bye laws that few organizations can boast of.  Founded in 1983, the Federation has been strongly promoting soccer in the community and among the Indian youth in Kuwait.
What was disappointing however at this year’s final was the uncaring attitude and low turnout of players and management from the other 14 participating KIFF clubs.

If one considers that 16 affiliated clubs participate in the KIFF tournaments and along with the players if one counts the coaching staff, management and supporters, there should have been over 500 members of the fraternity at the final.  After all it was our very own GRAND FINAL wasn’t it?  Baring the many supporters of Malabar United who came and supported their team enthusiastically and supporters of AVC, it was really difficult to spot the rest of the affiliates.

Staying away from such a grand event organized by your own Federation for whatever the reason maybe, I think is not fair to the finalists and the people who worked so hard all year round to successfully conduct the soccer activities.

In all honesty, if not for KIFF and the efforts of a few, many of the over 360 registered players would have not enjoyed the benefits of being known in the community,  playing on grass grounds,  being members of a team,  getting jobs and even receiving  cash and return air-tickets.

Although all were invited, at the final I could count just two or three Presidents and a few players sprinkled among the crowd.  Where exactly did the rest disappear?   At the dinner too organized the previous evening for Indian Soccer Icon Brandon Fernandes, at least four clubs failed to show up for reasons best known to them.
Where are the rest?

When I casually enquired with KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes, the reason players and officials stay away from events especially if their own teams are not involved, he tried to hide his disappointment with a shrug of his shoulder, but at the same time unable to hide the pain in his eyes.   It will hurt him, especially because of  the effort he and his managing committee have  made to get the sponsor,  organize the Al-Qadsyia  stadium, invite the guests, arrange the trophies, have the soccer icon Brandon Fernandes flown in from India,  organize the school exhibition match and half time dance performance, etc etc. 
  
Hope the new season starting in September 2014 will be different and better sense prevails. 

Julio Cardoso


Thursday, June 5, 2014

KIFF LEAGUE FINALS - AVC CHAMPIONS

KIFF LEAGUE
AVC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Malabar United lose in tie-breaker


AVC Sports & Cultural Association crowned a perfect season by winning the J.P. D’Mello Memorial Rolling Trophy in the finals of the KIFF League by narrowly beating Malabar United 6-4 in the tie breaker after the teams were locked in a 2-2 draw at the end of regular and extra time.  The grand league final was played at the Al-Qadsia Stadium on Friday, 30th May 2014 under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation and officiated by the Indian Football Referees Association.
Champions AVC with the Rolling Trophy
The match watched by a large weekend crowd began in earnest with Malabar United showing just why they made it to the final with Shafi scoring of a lazy AVC clearance to put his team in the lead with just 2 minutes on the clock.  Season champions, AVC shocked by the early setback and seasoned campaigners that they are, however came back into the match just before half time when their prolific scorer Anthony Rodrigues squeezed one in from a goalmouth melee.

Fairly large crowd attended the finals
The second half was a seesaw battle with both teams missing opportunities due to poor finishing but it was Malabar United who once again took the lead through Younis in the 20th minute and putting their large contingent of supporters in celebration mood.  AVC tried hard for the equalizer and although the Malabar boys defended well and it looked like they would be inscribing their name on the prestigious trophy for the very first time, Sidney equalized for AVC with an exquisite volley from just outside the penalty area to level the scores 2-2.  Extra time remained goalless and in the tiebreaker AVC players held their nerves with Ismael, Sebyton, Braulio and Sidney scoring while only Younis and Fiju could find the net for Malabar United. 
Jhaankar Dance Academy performers

Dance program during half time



Earlier, watched by their parents and hordes of young supporters, Indian Central School (Abbasyia) and Indian Public School (Salmiya) played an exhibition match which was easily won by the Salmiya School 6-1. Jhaankar Dance Academy performed and entertained during the half time break and a bingo game was conducted for the super snowball prize a Kuwait-Mumbai return air-ticket sponsored by Al-Qattan Travels.

Winners of exhibition match - Indian Public School (Salmiya)
The KIFF League final was sponsored by Gulf Cable and Electrical Industries Company and represented by Mr. Naser Omran Kannan the Regional Manager.  Also present were Mr. J. S. Dangi representing the Indian Embassy of Kuwait, Mr. Asif Juzer of Pro Sports, Mr. Abdulrahman Al Muraikhi of Gulf Cable and special invitee Brandon Fernandes the youth soccer icon from India.  In his brief address KIFF president Fidelis Fernandes thanked the invitees, the participating teams, IFRA and everyone who helped to make the season a success.  The schools individual runners-up medals were presented by Salvador Dias the runners-up trophy by KIFF Vice President Derrick Gomendes, the winners individual medals were given away by Dominic while KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes gave away the winner’s trophy to the captain of Indian Public School Salmiya. The IFRA officials for the exhibition match Simon Anthony, Jose Afonso, and liston Raju also received mementos from KIFF member Joseph Gomes.

Captain of Malabar United receiving the runners up trophy from Derrick Gomendes

Brandon Fernandes gives away the man of the match trophy to Sidney of AVC

Nasser Kannan of Gulf Cable giving away a trophy to AVC goalkeeper Alvaro

Mrs. Rausat Asif kindly consented to give away the mementos to the participants of Jhaankar Dance Academy who had earlier performed a wonderfully choreographed dance during the half time.  Agnelo the General Secretary of KIFF gave mementos to IFRA officials Francis Fernandes, Sarto Baptista, Tiago Fernandes and Jan Rodrigues, and AVC who were also crowned the season’s champions for having won the most tournaments received the trophy from the hands of chief guest Mr. J. S. Dangi of the Indian Embassy.  Sydney of AVC was rightly declared the man of the match and received his trophy from Brandon Fernandes while Mr. Abdulrahman Al Muraikhi of Gulf Cable handed out the runners up individual trophies to the players of Malbar United.  The Fair play trophy was won by Indian Strikers and given away by Joe Pereira the KIFF Registrar while the KIFF League runners up trophy was given away by Derrick Gomendes.  KIFF president also gave mementos to Bernard Fernandes and Xavier Furtado for their great support to KIFF during the season.

Captain Savio Fernandes of AVC collecting the rolling trophy from KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes and Brandon Fernandes

Mr. J. S. Dengi handing over the winners trophy to Savio of AVC

Mr. Naser Omran Kanan gave away the winners individual trophies and KIFF President Fidelis Fernandes and Brandon Fernandes gave away the KIFF League winners and rolling trophies amidst great celebration among the AVC players and supporters.  The program was compered by Julio Cardoso.

Report by:  Julio Cardoso
Pic:  Revon Gomes / Amanda Cardoso