Team Herald
MAPUSA: Holy Cross Parish Youth, Verna registered a well deserved 2-0 win over St Francis Xavier Parish Youth, Corgao to clinch the All Goa 14th 9-A-Side Parish Youth Football Tournament, organised by Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Youth, Arambol at Arambol Church ground, recently.
The final was equally contested in the first session where the keepers of both the teams managed to keep their team slate clean.
However on crossing ends, Savio of Verna managed to get past the advancing rival goalkeeper and scored with an adroit placement to put his ahead.
Korgao Parish youth went all out in search of the equaliser but the last line of defence of Verna failed to bulge under pressure.
In the closing stages of the match Domnic of Verna doubled the lead, with a rasping right footer from outside the penalty box.
Holy Cross Parish Youth, Verna won the trophy for the third time in their five appearances in the finals.
Chief guest Adlear D’Cruz and guest of honour Rev Fr Pio Almeida, Parish Priest of Arambol gave away the prizes to the winners and runners-up in the presence of Rev Fr Alex D’Souza and other dignitaries.
Adlear D’Cruz, speaking on the occasion encouraged the players’ passion of playing football. He also advised them to have a balance with studies too, and they need to put in equal effort to study.
He motivated all the football players to keep in mind that there are lot of incentives if they give equal importance to sports and studies as well.
Before the finals, an exhibition match was played between Arambol GFDC U-17 and Salgaocar U17, where Salgaocar edged out the local team by a solitary goal.
Rev Fr Alex D’souza (guest of honour) gave away the medals for the winning team.
