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SPORTS
GOA, Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Photo Rozario Estibeiro.
The Goa football team for Santosh Trophy with some models in Panjim.
Nicolau leads Goa team for Santosh HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 16
Thanks to:
U.K./ Raia
Sesa FA’s Nicolau Colaco will captain the Kingfisher Goa Team for 65th Santosh Trophy National Football championship in Assam. They will play their first match on May 20. It was at a glittering function at Taj Vivanta, here, that the State team was announced with models doing the introduction of the players with only GFA’s Schubert Furtado, Uday Lingudkar (chef-de-mission), Benjamin Silva (manager) being present and notable absentees being Shrinivas V Dempo, Elvis Gomes, Lavinio Rebello, Savio Messias, Anthony Pango, L awrence Gomes, Sanjiv Nagvekar, Alirio Lobo, Bishut Themudo, Prakash Naik. The senior players and Goa stars of Professionals teams in I-League do not figure in the squad as they still have commitments in I-League, while newly promoted Sporting and Vasco Club stars have just returned and look exhausted after their long schedule. “We have a youth team. They
are mostly from the First Division. There is plenty of fresh blood and they will perform creditably,” echoed both Schubert as well as coach Peter Vales. Their average age is just under25, there being two U-19 players in Rowlin Borges of Margao SC and Valzino Fernandes of Sporting. Team wise, Sesa have 7, Churchill Bros 3, Dempo 2, St Cruz Club Cavelossim 2, Margao SC 2, Sporting Clube de Goa 1, Salgaocar 1, Salcete FC 1 and MPT 1. The team has played a number of practice matches The squad: Nicolau Colaco (capt), Samson Fernandes (Dempo), Joseph Clement (Margao SC), Sajyan Roy (Sesa), Brain Mascarenhas (Churchill), Bruno Colaco (Sesa), Vivek Kaira (Sesa), Augustin Fernandes (Sesa), Gagandeep S (Sesa), Daniel Vales (Salgaocar), Joshua Rebello (Churchill), Rowllin Borges (Margao), Francis Andrade (Salcete), Savio Carneiro (Churchill), Victorino Fernandes (St Cruz Cavelossim), Cavin Lobo (Dempo), Lavino Fernandes (St
Cruz Cavelossim), Valzino Fernandes (Sporting), Gabriel Fernandes (Sesa) and Joe Colaco (MPT). The following officials will accompany the team: Uday Lingudkar (Bardez) (chef-demission), Peter Valles (Salgaocar) (coach), Benjamin Silva (Salcete) (team manager). Satyendra Kumar (physio). The team will leave on May 17 by flight to Guwahati, where they play their first quarter- final. Goa lost the championship last year having finished as semi-finalists. The traveling and kitting has taken care of by Kingfisher, the sponsors of the Goa Professional Football League, promoted by Procam International. Kingfisher and Procam officials stated: “The Santosh Trophy is one of the most popular football championships in the country. Kingfisher is proud to be associated with the Goan football team, a team that spells the attitude of the brand.” Kingfisher’s association with Football has garnered appreciation across the country and has become synonymous with the
Benjamin ignorant about complaint against ex-ref HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 16
GFA Executive Committee member Benjamin Silva, who has been appointed as manager of Goa team for Santosh Trophy, pleaded total ignorance about the complaint lodged against former FIFA referee and his name-sake Benjamin for alleged impersonation or manipulation of birth date. Both Benjamin occupy key positions as chairman and vicechairman of GFA Referees Committee. It was in the last GFA meeting that GFA president Shrinivas V Dempo informed the members that a complaint was lodged concerning the birth certificate and since it was a lengthy one
opined that it would be forwarded to member Benjamin for his say in the matter, which appears to be of a very serious nature, if true. Member Benjamin clearly stated that he was not aware about the complaint. “I am not aware of it at all. I have not received anything so far. The GFA general secretar y will keep me informed/posted about the matter. I don’t know the nature of the complaint,” s t re s s e d B e n j a m i n , w h e n asked for his comments on the issue. When asked if he was a student of St Anthony ’s High School, Assolna, member Benjamin replied in the affirmative. The complaint alleged that ref-
eree Benjamin had submitted a school leaving certificate from a school in Assolna at the time of application for National Grade Referees examination under AIFF in 2000 when Alberto Colaco was its secretary. Alberto, incidentally, now is the general secretary of GFA. Meanwhile, inquiries revealed that the matter was brought to the notice of some GFA top officials long time back when the nominations for the post of chairman and vice-chairman of referees committee were being made, but that it had no effect since the elections were hotly contested by the groups, with the referee being actively involved in canvassing for one group.
Betalbatim lift Curtorim Cup
The captain of Betalbatim Sporting Club receiving the Curtorim Panchayat trophy in the presence of Alcino D’Silva and Alex Fernandes. HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, MAY 16
Betalbatim Sporting Club thrashed Fr Agnel Youth Club, Paroda 4-1 to take top honours in Curtorim Panchayat Cup intervillage football tournament finals organised by Curtorim Gymkhana at Curtorim ground, Sunday. Betalbatim led 3-0 at half time. Betalbatim outplayed their opponents with neat enterprising soccer. Fr Agnel were on the backfoot throughout as they lacked creativity in midfield. Striker Nigel Falcao put Betalbatim ahead in the 10th minute when he fired from long range to give no chance to the rival goalkeeper. The early goal spurred Betalbatim to mount pressure on the rival citadel and they doubled the lead when striker Nigel beat the Paroda goalkeeper with a
stiff grounder. Ft Agnel were struggling and seldom troubled the rival defence with noteworthy moves. Betalbatim consolidated their position further when striker Luis Rogtao bulged the net off a cross from Desmond Fernandes. Betalbatim continued in the same vein and enjoyed the lion share of exchanges and put their opponents on the defensive as they restricted their movements into their own half. Fr Agnel had an opportunity to reduce the margin but striker Luis Colaco’s try hit the crossbar. After the initial hick up, Betalbatim went into the attacking mode with Hayston D’Costa putting the issue beyond doubt by punting the ball to the far corner of the net. Fr Agnel managed to score a consolation goal in the dying
minutes of the game. Betalbatim were richer by Rs 25,000 while Fr Agnel had to settle for Rs 15,000. Following individual prizes were awarded: Best goalkeeper of the finals Jerome Fernandes (Betalbatim). Promising player of the tournament Merwyn Colaco (Curtorim). Best half of the tournament Desmond Fernandes (Betalbatim). Best defender John D’Souza (Betalbatim). Best forward of the finals Lucizo Fernandes (Fr Agnel). Curtorim MLA, Reginaldo Lourenco was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Curtorim sarpanch, Alcino D’Silva. Earlier, Shanu Fernandes, secretary, Curtorim Gymkhana welcomed. Sebastiao Baretto, president, Curtorim Gymkhana proposed the vote of thanks.
brand and its promise of bringing in the Good Times. We wish the Goan team all the very best for the Santosh Trophy and we are confident that the team will make us all proud by bringing the trophy back home again.” Coach Peter Valles, said: “ I have faith in my boys, who have shown a lot of promise. I am confident that they will lift their game when it comes to the crunch and do enough to win the Trophy,” and added that though the squad was missing a few key players he was satisfied with his team’s showing in the four practice games they had played so far. Shrinivas Dempo, GFA president, in his message expressed confidence that the Goa team will perform well and explained that as players from the I-League and the 2nd Division League were not available, Goa had to field a young team consisting of upcoming players. He thanked Kingfisher and Procam International and especially Vivek B Singh, jt managing director, for their continued support.
REVISED I-LEAGUE FIXTURES 19 May Mumbai v. Dempo. 19 May Salgaocar v. E Bengal 22 May M Bagan v. JCT 22 May Churchill v. E Bengal 27 May Pune v. Dempo 28 May HAL v. E Bengal 29 May Chirag v. Viva Kerala 29 May I Arrows v. M Bagan 30 May Churchill Bros v. Pune 30 May ONGC v. Mumbai 30 May Dempo v. Air India 30 May JCT v. Salgaocar 01 June Dempo v. HAL 01 June E Bengal v. Chirag
GFA TACA GOA U-20 First Division: Churchill Brothers v. Salgaocar SC, Tilak Maidan, Vasco; Macasana Welfare Club v. Dempo SC, Curtorim ground; Goa Velha SC v. Vasco SC, Cansaulim ground. Kick off 4 p.m. GFA U-16 All-Goa finals: Salgaocar SC (Jrs) v. Betalbatim SC, Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, 4 p.m. Fr Chico Cup soccer: Rossman Cruz SC, Nagoa, Verna v. Vagator Parish Youth SC, Dr Gustavo Monteiro Stadium, Candolim, 4.30 p.m. Ambelim Cup soccer: Dramapur SC v. St Anthony’s SC, Colva, Ambelim ground, 4.45 p.m. 17th Sao Jose de Areal Villagers Cup soccer: Sao Jose de Areal SC v. SCC, Loutolim, Padribhat ground, Sao Jose de Areal, 4.45 p.m.
Goan eves out HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, MAY 16
Goa eves’ successful run ended after they were soundly beaten 1-4 to Orissa in the semi-finals of 19th senior women’s National championship in Chattisgarh, Sunday. Orissa led 3-0 at the breather. Michelle Castanha scored a consolation goal for Goa in the second half. “Orissa are the current National games champions and were the superior side, but our girls also kept their goalkeeper busy throughout,” remarked Goa manager, Macline Mendonca.