Media Release

Bahrain. Apr 7: The Konkani Community of Sacred Heart Church, Bahrain entertained its parishioners with a day-long football tournament recently. Eighteen teams in the 5-A-side football for men and 13 teams in the 3-A-side penalty shoot-out for women drew large crowd to witness this exciting football festival at the Indian Club courtayard, Manama.

Sporting FC (Konkani Community) defeated Tamil Catholic Community 3 – 0 in the finals of the 5-A-side football for men, while Team ‘Taporis’ emerged champions of the 3-A-side penalty shoot-out for women defeating team ‘Footloose’ 3 – 1 in the finals.

Cash prizes for winners and runners-up besides trophies and medals were presented. Lesten Martins of Sporting FC was awarded ‘player of the tournament’ while the highest scorer prize went to Sajan of Tamil Community. Teenager Jeremiah Pereira of Saints United was adjudged as the promising player of the tournament and his team also picked up the prize for the ‘promising team’. The best disciplined team award went to Tamil Catholic Community. Melissa Rebello, the captain of team ‘Taporis’ was presented with the best striker prize for scoring all goals from her strikes in the penalty shoot-out for women.

The other teams that participated in the main tournament were Arabic Community, Sri Lankan Community, Jesus Youth Warriors, Being Votrashi, Steven Boys, Raven FC, Dynamos FC, Jesus Youth FC, Marina FC, Mjd Salcette, Milagres Boys, Snipers A & B, Goan Footballers Bahrain and Here For Beers.

Fr Darel Fernandes, spiritual director of the Konkani Community launched the tournament in the morning with a thanksgiving prayer and taking the first shot at the goal. Later in the evening parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Fr Xavier D’Souza joined Fr Darel in distributing the trophies and thanked the supporters and organising team of the tournament.