AVC – KUWAIT CHAMPIONS OF KIFF PRESIDENTS’ CUP 2014. RETAINS KIFF SEASONS CHAMPIONSHIP 2014

AVC – Kuwait won the inaugural edition of the ‘’KIFF PRESIDENTS’ CUP 2014’’ defeating Santos United 2-1 in a pulsating final held on 28^th March 2014 at the Al Sabah Hospital grounds in Kuwait.

The opening ceremony of the finals was at its grandest best with the presence of ex KIFF Presidents as Guests of Honor and the Presidents of all the affiliates as Special Invitees. The Chief Guest Mr. Fidelis Fernandes the incumbent KIFF President and the guests were introduced to both the teams. The Chief Guest and KIFF President Mr. Fidelis Fernandes in his speech thanked all the past Presidents of KIFF for promoting football for the last three decades among the Indian diaspora in the State of Kuwait. The national anthems of Kuwait and India were relayed to inspire devotion and patriotism among those present in the stadium before the start of the match. The ex KIFF Presidents attending the ceremony were Mr. V.K. Vohra, Mr. Lawrence Pinto, Mr. Victor Mesquita, Mr. Tony Dias, Mr. Tony Correia, Mr. Manuel D’Costa and Mr. B.M. Viegas. Chief Sports Editor of Arab Times Mr. Francis Fernandes was among the guests for the finals.

As the opening programme settled down AVC – Kuwait and Santos United began their duel to claim the honors for the coveted trophy. Santos United, in their best form of their lives and playing in the their first ever finals were out to prove themselves. AVC Kuwait, the most consistent team so far were targeting the inaugural edition as well as season’s championship in their ever bulging kitty. The initial period was dominated by AVC and they took the lead in the 4^th minute when defender Joseph connected a perfect corner from Braulio into the net. Santos came back in to the game with their Captain and experienced former Salgaocar medio Tiago dominating the midfield. He fed his strikers with precision and in one move AVC were lucky not to concede when a powerful shot from John Costa hit the post and came back in to play. By now Santos were in complete dominance putting AVC on back foot with John, Tiago and Honda in cruise control. Santos equalized midway in the second half when a free kick from Tiago was guided in by Anthony Rego. In the second half AVC introduced their former Western Railways medio Luciano to strengthen the midfield and this masterstroke helped AVC to gain dominance with Savio, Luciano, Ismael and Agnel Martin in the midfield dictating. AVC took the lead again from a set piece when Agnel Martin’s shot hit the bar and came back to Captain Savio whose volley again hit the horizontal and the rebound fell to AVC’s star striker Anthony who expertly sent it back in to the net to make it 2-1. With this goal AVC were in ascendancy and attacked the opposition, but could not increase the lead further. Santos tried their best to equalize and almost did when a miss pass caught AVC’s defense off guard and a lurking Santos striker hit the post. The last few minutes of the game were controlled by AVC to see the match off and came out as winners. It is to be noted that both the teams along with their officials showed good camaraderie on and off the play during the finals. The match proceedings were conducted by Mubarak with Julio and Sarto on the lines.

Indian strikers were awarded the Fair play Trophy. The trophies and mementos were handed over by Mr. V.K Vohra, Mr. Victor Mesquita, Mr. Shyam Kumar, Mr. Dominick Pereira, Mr. Agnelo D’Cunha, Mr. Derrick Gomendis and Mr. Fidelis Fernandes.

It has been later announced that with this win AVC – Kuwait have been declared KIFF Season’s Champions for 2014. This is the 6^th time AVC – Kuwait has bagged this championship, the last was in 2013.

Earlier before the finals, KIFF conducted 3 a side open tie-breaker tournament in which 32 teams participated. The finals were won by Livrament Boys defeating Santos Football Club.

Winners and Runners Up, Fair Play and Man of the Match trophies for the tournament were sponsored by KIFF President Mr. Fidelis Fernandes. Winners individual mementos were sponsored by United Logistics Co. Runners Up individual mementos were sponsored by Real Betalbatim Football Club. Mr. Bernard Fernandes, Kevin Vaz and Julio Cardozo conducted the day’s proceedings. KIFF would like to thank the sponsors, guests, affiliates, Arab Times, Indiansinkuwait for making this tournament a great success. All the matches were supervised by IFRA.

Goan Overseas Association (GOA Maroons) will be conducting their 11 a side tournament under the auspices of KIFF starting on 4^th April 2014. The schedule is at 6.45 am Indian Strikers v/s United Goans Club. At 8am DHL v/s Santos United and at 9.15 and United Friends v/s Malabar United.

Report by: Xavier Furtado
Pics by: Revon Gomes / Julio Cardoso