CALANGUTE CROWNED KINGFISHER GOA BEACH CHAMPS!

SPORTS GOA: Goan Sports fan's favourite

Calangute Association overcame Candolim sports club 6-2 in the finals of the Kingfisher Goa Beach football challenge at Calangute on Friday evening. The tournament was held in collaboration with the Goa Football Association (GFA).

With the music pumping and the strong flood lights gleaming a packed crowd made up of locals as well as domestic and overseas tourists visiting the state, witnessed a cracking tournament involving teams from village clubs from all over Goa.

It was no surprise that two local teams, egged on by their fans strong support reached the final. You could tell by the football dished out and by the buckets of sweat pouring from their jersey’s that they had only victory in mind.

In the end goals from Gauresh (3), Ashley (2) and Domnic settled the tie in Calangute’s favour. Harish and Kibber had reduced the margin for Candolim.

Earlier in the semi-finals Calangute had knocked out Panjim Footballers, while Candolim created the biggest shock by disposing of hot favourites Sporting Clube de Goa.

The two day festival was kicked off at a press conference, where former Indian Football captain Bruno Coutinho spoke passionately about Beach Football. Bruno who hails from Calangute and grew up playing football on the beach, felt that a regular League could be set up to promote the game as he believed there was an abundance of talent and enthusiasm for the sport.   

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.

Healthy changes in B P Ed course

By ALDRID DA COSTA

“People wanting to live a fit healthy life is on the rise, and this course will help you make a real difference,” stated Don Bosco College principal Dr. Marie Raj after disclosing the exciting changes to the Bachelor of physical education course which kick starts from July 1, at the Don Bosco college in Panjim, which is the only college affiliated with Goa University in the state offering the course which is aimed at graduate sportspersons to make a career.

Speaking to Herald, Dr Marie Raj mentioned that the institute has added a special sports management module which will help youngsters who are looking to get into the ever expanding business of gym fitness centre’s. 

The college also has a special tie up with one of Europe’s leading universities, the Porto University’s department of physical education department and sports sciences since 2009. The university has invited students for research and do the master’s and doctorate studies, she added.

The B P Ed students will be trained daily from 6.30 a.m. and in the evening till 6.30 p.m. with adequate breaks in between with emphasis on practicals. They will have to select two sports from, cricket, hockey, badminton and tennis, while two combative sports will also have to be chosen from Judo, Taekwondo and boxing. Football, volleyball, basketball, handball, khabbaddi, kho kho and athletics are compulsory subjects. 

There are fifty places available with twenty five reserved for Goans. Those who have a Bachelors degree in any stream with a score of 45% can apply, but preferences will be given to sports people who have represented their school at state and national level.

With Goa adopting the sports policy, there will be need for more PE teachers in schools in the future. Besides, with the national games and new infrastructure being planned on a massive scale, there will be plenty of scope for qualified persons, stated Fr Wilfred Fernandes, manager of the college, who appealed to graduate persons to avail of the opportunity in the college in Goa offering the one year’s degree course.

First published in Herald on June 22^nd 2011.