All Goa Altar Servers Football Tournament and Tie-breaker
The Vocation Commission for the Diocesan Clergy organized the All Goa U-14 Altar Servers Football Tournament for boys and the Tie-breaker Tournament for girls, on 17th of November 2023, on the Seminary of Our Lady, Saligao football grounds. The winners of the 14 deaneries participated on the final day. The day began with the registration of the teams at 9:00 am. Fr. Clive welcomed the teams and their supporters. A good day always begins with invoking God’s blessings, so Fr. Pio Fernandes said a small prayer before the tournament began. The tournament began with the kick-off by Fr. Bernardo Cota. The first match of the tournament was played between the altar boys of Goa Velha (Batim) and Mapusa (Porvorim) deaneries. Both the teams played well with equal pressure on each other which amounted to a tie-breaker with the score 0-0. Eventually, Batim won the match with the score of 4-3 in the tie-breaker.
The tournament went ahead in good spirit and after each match, the players were served with refreshments. Lunch was served at 12.30 p.m. after the first half of the day. The second half of the day resumed at 3.00 p.m. and the football matches continued. Simultaneously the Tie-breaker Best of Five, for the altar girls, began on the other ground. The first match was between Goa Velha (Agassaim) and Mapusa (Porvorim) with a score of 2-1.
Both the finals were held on the main ground. The tie-breaker best of five finals was played between Chinchinim (Assolna) and Raia (Camorlim de Salcete) and Assolna won the tournament with a score of 5-4.
The Altar boys football final match was played between Verna (Verna) and Pernem (Arambol). The first goal was scored by Shelroy for Arambol with a wonderful free-kick, just before the end of the second half Verna scored their goal to equalize the score, and the match ended with the score 1-1 which led to a tie-breaker. Arambol won the match with a score of 6-5.
The Rector of our Seminary, Fr. Valeriano Vaz, appreciated the efforts and team spirit of all the players and specially congratulated the runners-up and the winners.
The director of the Vocation Commission for the Diocesan Clergy Fr. Xavier Estibeiro thanked the Rector for his support in making the tournament a huge success. He also thanked the coordinator Fr. Clive Diniz, along with Fr. Elvis Dias and Fr. Jovier Barreto for all the hard work and coordination done along with the seminarians. He also thanked Hubert D’Costa for sponsoring the sound for the event and all those who extended their help towards this tournament.
The jubilant winners and runner-ups were awarded medals, certificates and trophies.
Sem. Luis Rodrigues
(Propaedeutic Year, Seminary of Our Lady, Saligao-Pilerne)