Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The first ever Don Bosco Futsal Cup was organized by the Department of PE and Sports in collaboration with the health and fitness club on April 8, 2024.
A total of six teams participated: Night Hawks FC, Gladiators FC, Rising Panthers, Narcos FC, Red Devils FC, and Peaky Blinders FC. Each team comprised a minimum of 12 players, including three female players. The league provided equal opportunities for male and female players to compete together on the Don Bosco Artificial Turf.
Each team played ten matches, ensuring at least 2 girls were on the field on both sides in every match.
After a month full of matches starting from February 14th, Red Devils FC emerged as the league winners, with Peaky Blinders coming in a close second, securing their spot in the semi-finals of the Don Bosco Futsal Cup. The remaining players faced each other in knockout matches, with the winning teams securing the last two positions.
The finals pitted the rivals Red Devils FC and Peaky Blinders FC once again, leading to a bookend as the teams had faced off with each other in the very first match of the league. The outcome was however reversed. The two goals scored by Hanslum Furtado led the Red Devils to victory, while Sevon Costa made a comeback with one goal but it wasn’t enough to secure a win for the Peaky Blinders. Red Devils emerged as the winners of both the Futsal League and Futsal Cup, while Peaky Blinders were runners-up in both.
College Director, Fr. Joaquin Lobo, congratulated the winners and all participating teams, emphasizing the growth that games foster.
College Director of Sports, Ryan Periera praised the team captains and expressed gratitude to Sports Secretary Shashi Sahani, Assistant Sports Secretary Karen Estrocio, the students of the Physical Education department, and all others who contributed to the league’s success. He pledged to make the next league even better and grander.
Hanslum Furtado was awarded the Man of the Match, while Prakshay Simepurushkar clinched the Golden Boot. Hrushikesh Kinlekar was recognized as the best goalkeeper for his solid defence.
Hanslum Furtado was also honoured as the Best Male Player, with Pearl Almeida receiving the award for Best Female Player.
Sports Secretary, Shashi Sahani expressed happiness with the level of participation, congratulating each team and commending their performances. He concluded by urging everyone to stay fit and healthy.
Mahadev Parab, the captain of Red Devils FC, expressed joy over their victory, attributing it to their team’s hard work. He also extended thanks to Ryan Periera for the opportunity.
Pearl Almeida, who was recognized as the best female player and acknowledged for winning the league tournament, attributed her success to the entire team. She stated that she gave her best, made mistakes, and learned from it all. Pearl expressed her commitment to improving her game and striving to be a better player day by day. Remarkably, she mentioned that all the teams gave their best efforts, and she is eagerly looking forward to more tournaments. Adding further, she emphasized that while they didn’t just secure the victory, but truly excelled.
The Futsal League played an important role in bringing together students from across different departments and batches, promoting fitness and teamwork.
