In the final of the 19th edition of Youth Recreation Tournament conducted at Sour Ground, Navelim defeated United Friends Club, on 3rd of this month. The final was played in the morning at 8.30 and all important winning goal was scored in a goal mouth melee by Alfred Peres. The match started with fast pace in which former national player of Goa Sarto Batista the main schemer of UFC tried hard to feed his colleagues but all his attempts were in vain due to their erratic finishing. On the other hand Navelim under their dynamic forward Cruz tried hard to score but his attempts were either foiled by solid defense of UFC or by their custodian. In fact if it was not for good goalkeeping by UFC keeper Navelim should have been two up in the first half itself.

During the second half UFC again mounted pressure on Navelim but their custodian Britto was hard nut to crack. Fittingly, Britto was adjudged man of the match. When both teams failed to clinch the decider during the regular time, the issue had to be settled thru golden goal which was scored in the second session just before the final blow by umpire Derek Gomendes who did his job satisfactorily.

Being the festival day for Goans - Feast of Patron Saint of Goa, Spanish Missionary St. Francis Xavier who incidentally spent only 18 months in Goa out of 10 years he spent in Asia, very many Goan spectators came to watch the match during the later part of the final after attending the Church service. Though St. Francis Xavier spent only a short period in Goa yet his love for Goa was total. The final though not very exciting yet it was very interesting.

The Chief Guest Mr. Parwesh Marwah who is also the president of Indian Arts Circle in his brief speech eulogized the efforts of the organizers and all the participants in promoting goodwill thru soccer and assured his cooperation in future. Incidentally this year's edition was sponsored by Mr. Marwah himself.

The best discipline team which according to the organizers is also known as inspiration team, award was given to Veterans.

The president of YRC Lawrie Pinto compered the proceedings and vice president V.K. Vohra proposed the vote of thanks.

Youth Recreation Centre was established about 20 years back by Lawrie Pinto and his companions from the parent body Flying Arrows. In 1979 when Goans started soccer tournament at Sour Ground under the leadership of United Goans Foot-ball Centre, Flying Arrows was one of the strongest teams among Indians at Sour Ground. Later on it was bifurcated into the two and now only Youth Recreation Centre is surviving and doing well.