Sports Goa: Football + Badminton

A brace from Mark D’Cruz helped St Britto’s high school, Mapusa to move into the finals after they hammered Holy Cross high school, Siolim 6-0 in the U-14 Subroto Mukerjee Bardez zone football tournament organized by DSYA at Peddem complex, Mapusa here on Saturday 13 August 2011.

Omkar Sawant netted his sixth goal in three games for St Britto’s, While Macann Pereira, Joel Fernandes and Emmanuel D’Souza were also on target. St Britto’s will meet St Joseph’s high school, Calangute in the final.

In boy’s U-14 Badminton final, Saraswat high school, Mapusa defeated Dona Leona Memorial high school, Povorim 21-1 and 21-5. Chubby Cheeks high school, Povorim defeated Holy Family high school, Povorim 21-13 and 21-17 to clinch third place.

In boys U-19 badminton Bardez zone 1, VMS DVS Kushe higher secondary school, Assagao topped. St Thomas higher secondary school, Aldona were runners up followed by Shree Bhumika higher secondary school, Parya.

Sports Goa: Football + Table Tennis

Omkar Sawant helped himself to a brace as St Britto’s high school, Mapusa moved into the semi finals after defeating St Xaiver’s high school, Moira 2-1 in Subroto Mukerjee U-14 Bardez zone football tournament orgainsed by DSYA at Peddem complex here on Friday. Velroy Dias pulled back a consolation goal for Moira.

Holy cross high school, Siolim kept their nerve in the tie breaker to knock out Sacred heart of Jesus high school, Anjuna 3-0, after the match finished 1-1 after normal time. Mayura Naik opened the scoring for Holy Cross, before Anuraj Popkar netted his second goal in consecutive games to equalize for Sacred heart.

In a hotly contested encounter St Joseph’s high school, Calangute powered past Chubby Cheeks high school, Povorim 1-0 with Joysan D’Souza finding the back of the net.

Soham Govekar and Sanket blasted in to give Assagao Union high school, Assagao a 2-0 win over St Clara’s high school, Assonora. 

Mustfund hss, Panjim were victorious in girl’s U-19 inter-zonal table tennis tournament. St Xaiver’s hss, Mapusa took second place and Don Bosco hss, Panjim finished third.

In the boy’s U-19 Inter-zonal table tennis, Don Bosco hss, Panjim took full honours, followed by St Thomas hss, Aldona and People’s hss, Panjim were third.

First published in Herald on Saturday 13^th August 2011.

Sports Goa: Football + Badminton

Omkar Sawant hit a beautiful hat-trick for St Britto’s h/s, Mapusa as they overcame St Thomas h/s, Aldona 7-1 in the boys U-14 Subroto Mukerjee Bardez zone football tournament, organized by DSYA at Peddem Complex, Mapusa on Thursday.

 Roland D’Souza, Emmanuel Souza, Joel Fernandes and Keegan D’Sousa were on target for St Britto’s. Assagao Union h/s was also in goal scoring mood as they trounced ST Anthony’s h/s Duler 8-0.

Velroy Dias gave St Xaiver’s h/s, Moira a solitary goal victory over St Ann’s h/s, Tivim. ST Clara’s h/s Assonora edged out Holy Cross h/s, Bastora 2-1, with goals from Pranay Gaonkar and Gauresh Bogde. Selwin Fernandes scored a consolation goal for Holy cross.

St Xaiver’s h/s Mapusa finished first in girl’s U-17 Bardez Badminton final. Saraswat Vidayala h/s, Mapusa was runners up, followed by St Mary’s h/s, Mapusa.

First published in Herald on Friday 12^th August 2011.

Sports Goa: Football + Table Tennis

Rajat Sawal and Anslem D’Souza fired in, either side of the break to give Holy cross h/s, Siolim a 2-0 victory over SFX h/s, Siolim in the U-14 Subroto Mukerjee Bardez zone football tournament organized by DSYA, at Peddem complex here on Wednesday.

In the second match, Anurag Popkar lifted the ball over the goalkeeper on the stroke of halftime to give sacred heart h/s, Anjuna a 1-0 win over Lourdes Convent h/s, Saligao.

Joy Naith and Domnic Miranda helped St Joseph h/s, Calangute to a fluent 2-0 win over St Anthony’s h/s, Guirim and in the final game Chubby cheeks h/s Povorim blanked Little flower h/s, Calangute 3-0. Melvyn Ferrao, Mario Pinoch and Aldrich D’Souza did the damage for Chubby Cheeks.

St Xaiver’s hss, Mapusa overcame DM Pvs Kushe hss, Assagao 3-0 in the girl’s U-19  higher secondary Bardez zone 1 table tennis final, organized DSYA at Peddem complex here on Wednesday. Shree Bhumika hss, Parya finished third.

In the boy’s U-19 table tennis final St Thomas hss, Aldona edged out St Xaiver’s hss, Mapusa 3-2. DM Pvs Kushe, Assagao took the third place.

First published in Herald on Thursday 11^th August 2011.

Sports Goa: Chess

St Xaiver’s hss, Mapusa eased their way to victory in the district Inter-zonal Chess U-19 play-offs, organized by DSYA at Peddem complex, Mapusa on Tuesday. SS Samity hss, Ponda took second place while Dempo School of arts and science settled for third place.

Earlier St Xaiver’s hss had won the Zone 1 Bardez title ahead of DMS Kushe hss, Assagao to qualify for the Inter zonal playoffs.

First published in Herald on Wednesday 10^th August 2011.

Sports Goa: Badminton

Holy Family h/s, Povorim proved to be the top shuttlers as they defeated Saraswat Vidayala h/s, Mapusa 21-17 and 21-14 in the U-17 boy’s badminton Bardez Taluka games organized by DSYA at Peddem complex, Mapusa on Monday.

Naresh Tendulkar and Ashish Narvekar made up the victorious Holy Family team. Sujay, Abhishek and Aradhya completed the Saraswat team.

St Britto’s h/s, Mapusa pipped Chubby Cheeks h/s, Povorim to third place. Siddesh and Delton were part of the Britto’s line up winning 21-13 and 21-7. Latesh Mandrekar and Johann Fernandes represented Chubby Cheeks.

First published in Herald on Tuesday 9^th August 2011.

Ben Johnson interview: Seoul to Soul

Former Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson is currently in Goa, with the Tumbar brothers who have been training under him at his sports academy in Canada and are now currently on trial with I-League champions Salgaocar sports club. Aldrid Da Costa caught up with Ben at the Marriot hotel, Goa. The following are excerpts from the interview:

Was there a moment in your youth or a role model who made you decide you want to be an athlete?

My role model when I was younger was Jamaican sprinter Don Quarrie who took part in five Olympics and won the 200m gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. I have always had a passion for running but to reach the top I believe you are born with it and you have to work hard to sustain it.

What used to run through your mind before a big race?

I used to psyche myself up with self-talk. For instance before the 1988 Seoul Olympics I said “the time has finally come to show the world who the fastest man on the planet is.” I was also encouraged by the belief my parents placed in my ability.

Have you been to any major athletics event as a spectator since you left the sport?

No! I have no interest anymore in the sport; I read about it in the newspaper and research the latest training methods but that’s about it. I am more interested in football now, I follow the FIFA world cup but only when it reaches the last eight and I always support the underdog as they are willing to sacrifice anything to make themselves true winners.

How do you think your two protégés will adapt to Indian football?

My boys are used to European style football, which is to play the ball around until you find an opening and then go for the goal, but In India I have seen the ball being kicked into the air and hope for success. My players will have to study this method and adapt to the tactics as football is a team game.

You had trained Argentine footballer Diego Maradona in the nineties. What was that like?

I was training Diego for three weeks in 1997. Speed training for football is different from athletics as you are continuously changing direction so you have to train your muscles to adapt. Diego had great character and we got on well. I have not spoken to him for three years, but I here he is currently managing in Dubai, so I may pop into see him later in the year just to say hello.

Merelene Ottey is still competing at fifty do you have any plans to return to racing?

I turn 50 this year on December 30th and plan to throw a big party either in Brazil or Australia but have no plans on returning to the track. Last year I did a commercial in Japan where I ran 11.5 seconds without training, but afterwards my groin and pelvis ached for weeks, which told me a lot. Merlene has not taken a break from competing in the last 25 years, so as long as she stays in shape there is no reason why she can’t carry on.

100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt has set his sights on the 400m record. Is it possible?

 I think he can be successful at 400m by just training his speed endurance, although I believe he will have to select his events as he will not be able to win all at a single games. In sprinting it is about taking fewer strides to reach the finish line. The less time your feet stay on the ground the better it is. Usain is big and powerful and can apply greater pressure to the track which makes him successful.

Your great rival Carl Lewis has recently moved in to politics. Do you have any political ambitions?

I feel Carl is making a mistake. Politicians are all liars and only do things with self interest. I have no interest in politics, but you have to understand I am in the position I am because of politics, no one can avoid it.

Signing an autograph for a fan in the hotel lobby, he writes 100m 9.79 next to his name, which was his world record time and was subsequently wiped from the history books, but is clearly not forgotten by him. Ben has a self published book cleverly titled “Seoul to soul” coming out soon which he believes is an inspirational story which can help motivate people to deal with whatever life throws at them.

Subroto Mukerjee U-17 bardez zone final

St Xaiver's higher secondary school, Mapusa came back from the dead to defeat an unlucky SFX high school 3-1 in the final of the U-17 Subroto Mukerjee Bardez zone football tournament organised by DSYA at Moira ground, Moira, on Friday. The match was goalless at the interval.

 After piling on the pressure from the kick off, SFX dominated proceedings and deserved to be in front, but could not find the killer finish. Hari Parab's dangerous shot from distance was saved by the Xaiver's custodian and moments later he was called into action again when he raced off his goal line to prevent SFX striker Shubam Shetgaonkar in his tracks.

 Three minutes after the breather, SFX finally got their break through when Jorge Fernandes delightfully curled the ball into the back of the net from a free kick from an awkward angle. SFX could have doubled their slender lead, but the cross bar came to Xaiver's rescue to prevent Hari Parab's 25 yard effort.

 Arnold Fernandes equalised for Xaiver's fifteen minutes later, when he managed to bundle in a floated free kick from close. In the 51st minute from yet another set piece, Gideon Dori popped up unannounced at the back post to head Xaiver's in front for the first time in the match. Seven minutes from time Eban Mathew carefully rounded the SFX goalkeeper before placing in his seventh goal in three matches to finish top goalscorer of the tournament and ensure Xaiver's retain their crown.

 St Joseph's h/s, Calangute edged out St Britto's h/s, Mapusa 4-3 via the tie breaker to clinch the third spot in the Subroto Mukerjee U-17 football at Moira ground, on Friday. Britto's raced into the lead after just eleven minutes through their sharp shooting striker Junior Rodrigues. Midway through the second session when it seemed like St Joseph's were running out of ideas, Clifton Fernandes struck a sublime chip from distance to drag his side back on level terms. 

 In the penalty shootout, Prajot Kerkar, Clifton Fernandes, Edison D'Souza and Alison Fernandes scored for St Joseph's. Junior Rodrigues, Andre D'Souza and James Fernandes scored for Britto's.

First published in Herald on 30^th July 2011.

Sports Goa: Table tennis + Chess

Saraswat Vidayala h/s, Mapusa defeated GS Amonkar h/s, Mapusa by 3-0 in the girl’s U-14 table tennis Bardez zone mini secondary school final, organized by DSYA at Peddem Complex, on Wednesday. St Francis Xaiver, Mapusa overcame St Mary’s h/s, Mapusa 3-1 to secure third place.

In U-17 mini secondary table tennis boy’s final St Thomas h/s, Aldona defeated St Britto's h/s, Mapusa 3-1 to take full honours. St Joseph's h/s Calangute, battled to take third place defeating Saraswat h/s, Mapusa by three straight games.

Saraswat Vidayala h/s, Mapusa finished top with ten and half points, in Mini secondary school Bardez zone U-17 chess tournament organised by DSYA at Peddem complex here on Friday. Krupa Shirodkar, Kuldeep Azgaonkar, Shivam Gawande, Antara Samant and Neha Mutrawadi made up the Saraswat team. Dynanprasarak h/s, mapusa finished second with ten points and Holy family h/s, Povorim finished third with ten points.

First published in Herald on 30^th July 2011.

Subroto Mukerjee U-17 football tournament semi-finals

Eban mathew kept up his goal scoring form by netting a superb hat-trick to send St Xavier's h/s, Mapusa into the finals after defeating St Britto's h/s, Mapusa 3-0 in Subroto Mukerjee U-17 football tournament, organised by DSYA at Peddem complex, here on Thursday.  

 In the other semi final SFX h/s, Siolim, overcame St Joseph's h/s, Calangute 3-0 to reach the final. Hari Parab, Jeramie Kekel and Jason D'souza were on target for SFX.

First published in Herald on 29^th July 2011.

Subroto Mukerjee U-17 football tournament

A brace from Junior Rodrigues ensured St Britto’s h/s, Mapusa progress to the semi finals after knocking out Holy Cross h/s, Siolim 3-0 in Subroto Mukerjee Bardez zone football tournament, organized by DSYA at Peddem complex here on Wednesday. Andre D’souza netted the third for St Britto’s.

St Francis Xavier h/s, Siolim thumped St Ann’s h/s, Tivim 6-1 in another quarter final encounter. Shubam Shetgaonkar opened the scoring from the penalty spot, Saish Goltekar and Hari Parab helped the team netting a brace each, before Ricatil Fernandes sealed victory. Raj kumar pulled a consolation goal back for St Francis Xavier.  

Nesmond Rodrigues punted in a brace as St Joseph’s h/s, Calangute made their way into the last four with a convincing 3-1 win over PVS h/s, Assagao. Clifton Fernandes was also on target for St Joseph’s, while Clyde Velis was the solitary goal scorer for PVS.

First published in Herald on 28^th July 2011.