PANAJI
The Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) will hold its annual sports festival, get-together and felicitation of elderly sportspersons on October 18, at Sinquetim Sports Complex, Sinquetim, Navelim, from 9.30 am onwards.
The annual get-together of veteran sportspersons will see former players, officials, and administrators first get together for friendly games at 9.30am. Veteran players will showcase their skills in football, volleyball, athletics, basketball and table tennis.
AWES will later, at 12 noon, hold a felicitation function to recognise the special achievements of clubs, players and officials.
Associacao Academica de Moira and Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias will be felicitated for completing 100 years and more of its existence, while clubs which took part in the first Goan Football League (Primeiro Campeonato de Goa de Football) organised by the Conselho de Desportos in 1951, and are still active, will be recognised for their longevity.
“This year commemorates a very important milestone in the history for football in Goa. It is now 75 years since the first Goan Football League was formed and several clubs came into existence,” said Avertano Furtado, president of AWES.
These clubs, significantly, include the first champions Clube Desportivo de Chichinim and runners up Lube (FC Siolim) Sports Clube. Others in the category are Vasco Sports Club, Sporting Clube de Goa, Sao Miguel de Taleigao, PVC Sports Club, Calangute Association, Guirim Sports Club, Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim and Associacao Academica de Majorda.
Guirdolim Sports Club, which has been organising a cycle race without a break for over 50 years, Chandor Club (organisers of the Seamen Cup) and Raia Sporting Club (Custodio Memorial Soccer) will also be honoured for their special achievements.
As in the past, the organisation will also felicitate former sportspersons, officials and administrators who have contributed significantly towards the development of sports in Goa. These include Roshan Lal Nahar (badminton), Dr. Satish Kudchadkar (badminton), Peter Rodrigues( Cycling), Anthony Fernandes (athletics), Carmo Vaz (volleyball), Apu Rajan ( long distance running) and Gajanand Salkar (administrator).
PWD Minister Digambar Kamat will be the chief guest for the function, while Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar and director, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) Dr Ajay Gaude will be the guests of honours.
