S2H Team
Sunday Sultan and Republicans took top honours at Hockey 5’s tournaments at Peddem Complex, Mapusa, Goa, on Sunday, February 7, 2022.
Playing on the practice pitch of the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) facility, Sunday Sultan ruled supreme, beating Republicans 3-1 in the Veterans category of the 1st Open Veterans and 7th Open Women’s Hockey 5’s tournament. Karl, Stanley and Sameer were on target for Sunday Sultan but they encountered stiff resistance from Republicans who scored through Conroy.
In the Women’s category, Republicans overcame a tough challenge from Young Sports HC, winning the final, also 3-1.
Former internatioanl Lily Chanu, veteran former star Sanggai Ihembal Chingshubam and 2002 Commonwealth Games gold winning captain Suraj Lata Devi scored for the winners but Nikita Naik pulled one back to make for an interesting contest.
Young Sports Hockey Club, Mapusa, organized the event and will look back with a great deal of satisfaction. The organizers put together a team to handle functional areas of the event which by all accounts and impressions was a resounding success.
The veterans’ event drew nine teams, the women’s seven. The Veterans category was open to players 40 years of age and over with one player per team allowed in the 35-39 age group. The tournaments were conducted on a league-cum-knockout basis.
Enthusiastic support from fans, families and friends made for a fine atmosphere at the complex and provided a boost to the promotion of hockey.
Sports Authority of Goa and Goans Hockey, the state body for the sport of which Benny Viegas is general secretary, provided immense support that went a long way in the smooth running of the one-day event.
In a heart-warming gesture, Lily, an experienced Republicans player, gave away her award to a Young Sports HC player as an effort to encourage and motivate.
Chief guest Anthony Aloysius D’Souza, President of Young Sports HC, Mapusa, gave away the prizes. Guest of honour was Mr. Ryan Menezes, founder of Geostanne United Football Club, general secretary, MDFA, and owner of Celebrity Sports Club, Mumbai.
Ryan presented a club jersey and shawl as a mark of respect to Young Sports Hockey Club founder and mentor, Alexander Remedios, for a lifetime contribution and service to hockey.
Umpires who provided yeoman service at the event were: Ayyaz Khan, Aviraj Madgaonkar, Gaurav Singh, Raju Rathod, Nandan Jha, Gautam Singh, Ankush Singh, and Riyaz Kambli.
Individual awards: Best Goalkeeper: Veterans: Brian D’Souza (Sunday Sultan). 2. Best Goalkeeper: Women’s: Pavina Salgaonkar (Young Sports HC). 3. Best Defender: Veterans: Conroy Remedios (Republicans). 4. Best Defender: Women’s: Asem Manorama (Republicans). 5. Best Player of the Tournament: Veterans: Karl Gomes, (Sunday Sultan). 6. Best Player of the Tournament: Women’s: Lily (Republicans).
SAN ANTONIO WARRIORS, YOUNG SPORTS ‘A’ TRIUMPH: San Antonio Warriors ‘A’ (men) and Young Sports ‘A’ (women) emerged champions in the first All Goa hockey 5’s tournament organized by Corozan Society, Bastora, and held on Goa Ribandar turf recently.
In the men’s final, San Antonio Warriors ‘A’ beat Bastora Boys 4-2. In the first men’s semi-final San Antonio Warriors A got the better of Young Sports A 3-2. In the second semi-final, Bastora Boys put it acrossYoung Sports ‘B’ 4-3.
In the women’s final, Young Sports ‘A’ beat Bastora Girls via the shootout 5-3 after teams were locked 3-3 at full-time.Pandu was adjudged best player in men’s section. The best upcoming player award went to Abban.
Young Sports’ Nikita Naik emerged best player while clubmate Pavina Salgaokar took the best upcoming player award in the women’s section.
The event attracted 14 teams to the men’s event and six in the women’s.