Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: On Sunday, at the Laymati Football Ground in Davorlim, the 3rd Tribal 8-a-side Football Festival came to a thrilling conclusion, with Ambaulim Youth emerging as the champions. This two-day tournament, organized by the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) in collaboration with the Sports and Youth Affairs Department of the Government of Goa, saw 22 teams from across Goa participate.
The final match was a closely contested affair, with Ambaulim Youth edging out Raia Youth 3-2. The path to the final was paved by Ambaulim Youth’s semifinal victory over Galaxy Boys Chimbel, which they won convincingly with a 4-1 score. Raia Youth, on the other hand, defeated Dragon Boys Margao 3-2 in their semifinal match.
The tournament was inaugurated by Shri. Ulhas Tuenkar, MLA of Navelim, and the finals were graced by Shri Digamber Kamat, MLA of Margao and former Chief Minister of Goa, who presented the prizes. Other dignitaries present included Adv. Prasad Naik, Anthony Colaco, President of Rosary Veterans, Laxmidas Mangeshkar, Jyoti Mangeshkar, Arvind Kuttikar, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, and Caitan Costa, among others.
All participating teams were provided with a football, breakfast, refreshments, tea, and lunch. The winners, Ambaulim Youth, received a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 along with a trophy, while the runners-up, Raia Youth, were awarded Rs. 20,000 and a trophy. Additional awards included Best Discipline Team to Shiroda Youth Club, Best Goalkeeper to Ivon from Ambaulim, Best Scorer to Melroy from Ambaulim, and Best Defender to Alyroy from Arlem.
The event was compared by PI Filomena Costa, ensuring a smooth and engaging ceremony for all attendees.