TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Guardian Angel SC, Curchorem were lucky to squeeze past Raitura SC, Rachol 5-4 via the tie-breaker and emerge champions of 25th All-Goa St Anne’s Festival inter-village football tournament organized by Ponda Footballers at Animal Husbandry ground, Curti-Ponda, Sunday. The score was 1-1 at full time.
Raitura took the lead in the very third minute through Don Fernandes but with five minutes for the final whistle, Guardian Angel equalized through Benny Oliveira.
Guardian Angel tried to take the lead early on but Austern ballooned over from close range. Subsequently, Raitura attacked through Jouston from the flanks as he essayed a pass to Remedious who in turn back-passed it to Don who made no mistake in punting the ball past the rival goalkeeper much to the delight of the Raitura supporters.
In the second half, Guardian Angel attacked through Benny, Anthony and Alson but their attempts went straight into the rival goalkeeper’s hands.
At other end, Guardian Angel goalkeeper Jovial dived full length to keep out Remedious Pango’s and Sebestian Oliveira’s shots.
Guardian Angel equalized just five minutes before the final whistle when Melvito essayed a through ball to Benny Oliveira who slotted past the rival goalkeeper.
In the tie-breaker, Austern Fernandes, Alson Fernandes, Manish Oliveira and Melvito Fernandes scored for Guardian Angel while Anthony Dias’s attempt kissed the goalpost. For Raitura Jouston Barbosa, Wilfred Gomes and Anthony Fernandes scored while Sebastiano Oliveira’s and Remedious Pango’s attempts were saved by the rival goalkeeper.
Other prizes — Best goalkeeper: Jovial Coutinho (Guardian Angel). Best defender: Francis Vaz (Raitura). Best midfielder: Kevin Fernandes (Raitura). Best forward: Benny Oliveira. Player of the finals: Patrick Lima (Guardian Angel). Player of the tournament: Shabik Sheikh (Guardian Angel).
Guardian Angel received Rs 31,000 plus a trophy while Raitura took home Rs 21,000.
Earlier Adv Narendra Savoikar, chairman of Goa Law Commission kicked-off the finals. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Soccor Velho.
Minguel Fernandes and Audrey Clemente were adjudged best volunteers.
Ponda Footballers felicitated its founder member Cyriaco Dias and international woman footballer from Ponda, Velanie Fernandes. She was given a scholarship of Rs 5,000.
MLA Lavu Mamletdar, Sesa Goa general manager Joseph Coelho, Sandeep Kandeparkar and Rajesh Verenkar were among those present.
Belarino Fernandes compered. Franky Mendonsa, secretary of Ponda Footballers proposed the vote of thanks.
