A large crowd witnessed Colva United Centre and Rising Stars  (YRC) cruising  into the finals among the 18 participating teams for the United Friends Club 3rd edition 7-a-side football tournament held on 26th November 1999 organized under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) at the Al-Sour Grounds, Kuwait City. A brilliant goalkeeping displayed by Henry D'Souza enabled Colva United Centre 'A" to lift the glittering trophy.  The finals were evenly contested and it was Rising Stars that found the target in the 6th minute of the first half through the boots of Juzer.  CUC  tried hard to equalize but the score remained 1-0  at the lemon break time.    In the 8th minute of the  second half,  Austin equalized for CUC in a goalmouth melee and the deadlock remained to be settled under the tie-breaker system.  CUC emerged victorious by a margin of 3-2 goals.  It was on their path to the finals that CUC  had to defeat Navelim Youth Centre 'A", Santos Football Club and United Goans Strikers. The Rising Stars  overcame stiff challenges from host, United Friends Club 'A', Ave Maria and Curtorcares United.

UFC's President, Cajetan Pereira, welcomed the distinguished guests and appraised on the activities of UFC.  The chief guest for the finals, Inacio Faleiro, President of KIFF,  in his brief speech lauded the efforts of UFC in organizing the tournament.  He also congratulated  UFC for winning the Best Decorated Stall  Rolling Sheild for the third consecutive year at the Goa Day '99 programme organized by the Goan Welfare Society (GWS) in association with other  Goan clubs/organizations recently.  The guest of honour, Anthony Botelho, Manager of Dempo Sports Club in Goa, and the former Secretary of Goa Football Association (GFA) - Goa, was felicitated on this occasion. A Memento was presented  to Anthony Botelho by Cajetan Pereira, on behalf of UFC, in recognition of  his dedicated services in the field of the promotion of football  among the Goan youth.  Mr. Botelho congratulated  the participating teams for their interest in fooball in Kuwait during their leisure/weekend break.      IFRA's members provided excellent refereeing for the tournament including P.A. Tony, Sharafudin K., Milagres Crasto, Sarto Baptista, Bernardo Fernandes, Jude Fernandes, Peter Monteiro, Oscar Varela, Anthony D'Costa, Derrick Gomindes, Salvador D'Souza, Joe Mendes and Minas.

At the prize distribution ceremony, the chief guest awarded the Winners trophy to the captain of CUC and individual prizes to the team players. The Runners-up trophy was given away by Anthony Botelho to the captain of Rising Stars along with individual gifts for the team players. The best disciplined team trophy,  bagged by Curtorcares United, was given away by A.E. D'Souza, President of Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA)-Kuwait. Henry D'Souza  of CUC was adjudged the best player of the one-day tournament, and awarded a  trophy by Johnie Machado, UFC's Advertising & Publicity Manager.  Gifts to IFRA Referees were given away by Agnelo Fernandes.  The finals was officiated by IFRA's  Derrick Gomindes and Anthony D'Costa  and Milagres Crasto on the lines. UFC's Medical Officer, Hipolito Fernandes  received a special medal  at the hands of Anthony Botelho for his honorary medical services to the players at the Al-Sour Grounds.    Bernardo Fernandes, UFC's General Secretary conducted the proceedings of the tournament and proposed a vote of thanks.    He expressed his appreciation and thanks to  UFC's members, players and supporters for their collective efforts in organizing the tournament, KIFF, IFRA and the prize donors.  The Winners Trophy was sponsored by Inacio Faleiro

 

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