KUWAIT CITY, April 20: Hosts Navelim Youth Centre (NYC) played with black arm bands while a minute’s silence was observed in each of the matches played in the ongoing 21st Edition of the NYC Trophy as a mark of respect to Peter Colaco, founder member and ex-footballer of NYC who died on 13th April onboard a Kuwait Airways flight whilst returning from India.
In a statement to the media NYC President Agnello A.S. Fernandes said, “Peter Colaco’s loss is colossal to the club. A founder member, Peter was one of those to whom discipline meant everything. A staunch football lover he was one of the favorites on Soor Grounds during his prime playing days. To his family, Peter was a caring father and a loving husband. To us, Peter was a very kind person, always ready to help. He always had a solution to any problem and had a way of making things simple. In him we have lost a stalwart supporter of NYC. The abyss created by him will be felt for a long time to come.”
Navelim advanced to the semifinals beating CRC Chinchinim 2-1 while strong contenders and tournament favorites GOA Maroons bowed out of the tournament with a tie-breaker defeat.
The tournament played at Sabah Hospital Grounds under the auspices of Kuwait India Football Federation (KIFF) is sponsored by international corporate houses Gulf Custody Company, Axis Bank and My Money Mart.
Navelim took the lead through captain Americo Fernandes only to see goalkeeper Britto Pereira, one of the most popular players in Kuwait, commit a silly mistake in advancing out of his den unnecessarily to allow Chinchinim’s Sedwin Gomes to level the scores.
Navelim’s reliable medio Duarte Ferrao combined superbly with Bernard Pires to scramble the match winner late into the match. Chinchinim goalkeeper Anthony Fernandes and striker Sony Gomes were outstanding throughout the match while stopper back John Furtado, Kelwin Rodrigues, Simon, Bernard and Christi Pires were excellent for NYC.
Navelim meet United Goans (UG) Strikers in the semifinals on 23rd April 2010.
Goa Maroons dominated most of the first session against United Friends Club (UFC), hitting the post more than once but could not get the much needed goal. Jaime Figuera, Carlos D’Sa, Ian D’Souza, Gabriel Fernandes, Joseph and Steven Correia excelled for Maroons. United Friends Club, watched by their club President Cajetan Pereira played a defensive game almost intentionally holding the much superior Maroons to go in for the tie-breaker.  Anthony Fernandes, Godwin and Alino Silvano Mendes were on target for UFC.
It may be noted that despite winning the game, some senior players of UFC were seen screaming abuse in a language perhaps not understood by the officiating referee P.A. Tony, one of the best referees in Kuwait. Many of the spectators raised questions whether clubs or officials do anything to curb this kind of ‘uneducated’ behavior from players playing in the Kuwait India Football Federation (KIFF) tournaments where much importance is emphasized on discipline and fair-play time and again.
In the other match, Curtocares United beat Santos Football Club 2-0 to reach the last four stage. Zico Fernandes and Minguel Mouro scored for the winners. Curtorcares will face United Friends Club in the semifinal clash.
In an earlier match, United Goans beat Rising Stars in the tie-breaker for a semifinal berth. Francisco Fernandes, Edward Britto, Alwyn Pontes, Frederick D’Souza, Ravi Narvekar and Anthony Silveira took the spot kicks for United Goans.
Semifinal line-up (23/04/2010): Navelim Youth Centre v/s United Goans at 6.45 am; Curtorcares United v/s United Friends Club at 8.15 am.