President’s Speech at the Final Game
September 24, 2011
Honourable Guests, Ladies, Gentlemen, Boys and Girls. Thank you all very much for coming and supporting the Goan Soccer League for the XVI Gaudencio Fernandes Memorial Inter village Soccer Championship between the Defending Champions, Loutolim Goatees and for the first time at the Finals, Navelim Sports Club. Aren’t you all glad you were here to watch an exciting and very competitive soccer between our very own Goan soccer players? Many of these young players will one day represent Canada and make us Goans very proud.
The competitiveness this year was very keen. The League Championship was decided at the very last game. Colva and Margao were bobbling up and down the first and second position from the middle of the season, but finally, it was Colva F. C. for the very first time was declared the League Champions.
The discipline was great. The Chairperson, Mr. Cyprian D’Cruz, whom we all know as Cippy, was kept idle with no disciplinary meetings. This season we only had two red cards, one in the regular season and that also in the last game of the league and the second was in the Semifinals, that too was a second yellow card. The Coaches, Managers, Trainers and Players must pat yourselves on the back for this kind of discipline. Yet, there is plenty of room for improvement in the area of yellow cards. The unwanted and uncalled for yellow must be stopped. The Coaches and Managers this is your challenge for the next season.
The Commissioner, Mr. Roy Fernandes, did an excellent job organizing the 2011 season and running the meetings which were kept to a minimum. Correspondence from and to the teams was well maintained. Not forgetting our Secretary, Mr. Michael Rodrigues, who kept all the minutes and all the teams under the direction of our Constitution. Thank you to the Executive Committee for a job well done. Keep up the good work.
To all the players over 35, I have some good news for you. Next year we are going to put in a Goan Team in the Ontario Cup in the Masters Division. This is for players 35 and over. So the players will be receiving a letter from me requesting for your time and support. I also ask all the mangers that if we are successful in putting the team in the Ontario Cup and if both the schedules clash, then preference should be given to the Ontario Cup.
I must thank Ms. Jacquie Menezes for attending the game and spending your valuable time out of very busy schedule. I want to make a very earnest request to all you here today to tell all your family, friends, their friends and everyone whom you know to go out on October 6, 2011 and vote for Jacquie Menezes in the Oshawa riding so that we may have our very own first Goan MP in the Ontario Government. With this Jacquie I wish you all the success in your campaign and hope my wishes come true. Good Luck.
On behalf of the Goan Soccer League, I would like to make a small donation towards the successful running of your campaign and also present this to you as a token of appreciation.
Thank You.
