MAPUSA: Football Club de Bardez and Calangute Association played out a goalless draw in the Bardez derby match of the Goa Professional League, organised by Goa Football Association, played at Duler Stadium, here on Wednesday.
Bardez assistant coach Climax Lawrence who was in charge of the team in the absence of the head coach Armando Colaco made a number of changes to his side which lost to Guardian Angel SC in the last round match as Ronil Azavedo, Viraj Naik, Inacio Colaco, Joywin Carneiro, Sherman Vaz and Denstan Fernandes made it into the starting XI, while Amar Halankar and Yamnursab Pinjar were the two changes for the Beachside which lost to Dempo SC in the last match.
After some drab football in the first 25 minutes, Bardez finally created their first potent attempt when Ronil easily dribbled past Calangute defender Kouame Joseph and set up his teammate Clinton Niasso with just the keeper to beat but the front man failed to keep his shot on target from 10-yards.
Calangute replied with a swift attack from the right when Josley Dias made a darting run on the wings and tried to find Blake Haldankar in the box but Bardez keeper David Chauhan came off his line to collect the danger. They had another chance in the closing stage of the first session when Kouame headed on the goal off Joston Pereira’s corner but his powerful header rebounded off the crossbar.
Bardez should have opened the account at the hour mark when Shubham Rao Desai dribbled past a defender in the box and found Ronil with a low cross who made a tap at the far post only to see it cleared off the goal line by Bersal Viegas. Ten minutes later, Bersal was in the action again when he made a superb cross to find unmarked Josley in the box but the winger failed to keep his shot on target with the opponent keeper completely out of position.
Three minutes later, Bardez keeper David came with three back-to-back saves where he twice denied Joston from close, while he also blocked just-in Jayesh Chopdekar from point-blank range to keep his slate clean as the Bardez derby ended in a goalless draw.
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AFC Women’s football day at navelim today
PANJIM: The Goa Football Association said that this year around 400 girls will be participating in the AFC Women’s Football day celebration which will be held on Thursday at the Rosary ground, Navelim.
GFA President Elvis Gomes was upbeat about the celebrations against the backdrop of the successful Women’s league held by the GFA recently.
“It’s an occasion to show that GFA works for gender parity. We have been encouraging women’s football in a big way. There is a hope of glory in future” said Gomes.
The program will start from 8:30 onwards in the presence of the women principals of various schools in and around Navelim. Maria Rebelo, FIFA Referee and instructor will be felicitated for making a mark in the world of football and for being an inspiration to other girls.
