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RAIA: Mormuago Deanery along with St Andrew’s Church, Vasco, organised a football festival – Bom Jogo – at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, recently.
The football festival aimed to foster community spirit, promote vocation and strengthen fellowship among church members and parishioners. The festival featured various football matches and activities were held for men and women, encouraging participation across different age groups.
It kick off with exciting atmosphere, alter servers boys and girls teams coming from Curpavado, Sancoale, Cortalim, Chicalim, Vasco and Desterro, along with inter-ward 5-a-side football for men and tie-breaker for women, followed by longest spot-kick for men and later in the evening exhibition match between St Andrew’s Parish Veterans and Diocesan Priest and Nuns and Volunteers exhibition tie-breaker.
In the alter servers match, boys and girls were provided an opportunity to showcase their talents in supportive friendly environment . In the 9-a-side football for boys, the alter servers match featured six participating teams from Mormuago Deanery wherein the alter servers of Curpavado lifted up the trophy and runners-up were the alter servers of Chicalim Parish.
In the girls tie-breaker, the alter servers girls tie-breaker featured six teams from Mormuago Deanery wherein Chicalim parish were the winners and Team Vasco Parish secured the runners-up position. In the inter-ward, 5-a-side football for men, the match consisted 12 teams out of which Saibinni Bhatt, Dempo Bhatt and Bandar lifted up the trophy and won the for 5-a-side match against Piexem Dongri in final.
In women inter-ward tie-breaker, consisted 19 teams, each team gave their best but Bhutteabhatt Team 1 were the winners and Piexem Dongri Team 2 secured the runners-up position.
In the longest spot kick for men, involved men from various wards of Vasco who were in 40+ age group. Alex Fernandes from near GSL took away the trophy by shooting the ball at the longest distance of 57 metres and Crescencio Lobo won the oldest men trophy for the shot.
Before the exhibition match, the alter servers and the catechism children from Vasco parish had performed a dance to set a mood and celebrate the day which continued with a formal welcome by Fr Anthony Vaz, parish priest of St Andrew’s Church ,Vasco, to each one present on the ground .
Chief guest Fr Jose Antonio Costa and guest of honour Fr Xavier Braganza shared few words of encouragement and praise to highlight the day.
Thereafter an exhibition match started with a walking march along with the players with a grand opening on the kick to the ball by chief guest, which served as a unique opportunity for fellowship, fun and community building. The championship trophy was clinched by St Andrew’s Parish Veterans. Best goalkeeper was awarded to Alex Fernandes, Best player Fr Americo Rodrigues and Best defender trophy Vinay Fernandes.
At the half time of the exhibition match between veterans and priests, the tie-breaker between Nuns and Volunteers was held where the Nuns of Cluny Convent clinched the winners’ trophy. It was Joyful to see their sporting spirit as they were shooting the ball.
Later, prizes and trophies were disturbed to the teams. Overall, the football festival achieved its objectives to bring together the parishioners of the church which encouraged interaction among community members and sense of belonging to celebrate sports and fellowship.
