Kuwait: KIFF League 2012 Navelim YC, Don Bosco, DHL FC And UFC in Semis

By Julio Cardoso
Bellevision Media Network

• Bruno Coutinho to grace finals

 

Kuwait, 08 Jun 2012: Exciting news for Indian soccer enthusiasts as India’s soccer icon former India captain and Arjuna awardee Bruno Coutinho is due to visit Kuwait from the 13th of June 2012 for a week on the invitation of the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF). During his visit to Kuwait, Coutinho who was arguably one of India’s best soccer players, will be felicitated on 14th June at a special function for KIFF affiliates and invitees and will also be the guest of honor for the KIFF League final scheduled on the 15th of June 2012 at a venue to be announced shortly.

 

Bruno Coutinho - Star Indian Soccer player

 

Hailing from the famous beach side village of Calangute in Goa, Bruno Coutinho who currently holds the position of Jt. Director of the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) is a true soccer icon and a source of inspiration to all Indians and Goans in particular. In a career spanning over 14 years Bruno has become an integral and inseparable part of Indian football and his exploits at home and abroad have brought him many awards and recognition, culminating in receiving the second highest sports award in India ‘The Arjuna Award’.

 

Bruno receiving the Arjuna Award from former Indian President A. J Kalam

 

Bruno who studied in the famous Monte De Guirim high school in Goa where sports was given equal preference with academics, first played for India in a school tournament at Brunei in 1987 before joining Dempo Engineering, a hub for nurturing budding soccer players in 1988. From there he moved to another prominent club Salgaocars where he played for most of his career and won many accolades for himself and his team. Bruno’s association with Salgaocar resulted in his team winning the Federation Cub in 1997, Rovers Cup in 1989, 1996, Taca Goa title in 1989 and the National Football League in 1998. His association with the Indian national soccer team lasted more than a decade including captaining the team.

 

Bruno comes across as a pretty simple and down to earth person. His sports dreams are big for Goa and with the new BJP Government elevating Soccer to the level of ‘State Sport’, he feels that things are moving in the right direction to promote the sports at the grass root level.

 

DHL v/s UFC at 6:30am

 

Navelim YC v/s Don Bosco at 8:00am

 

The KIFF LEAGUE conducted for Indians in Kuwait has 19 affiliate member teams, and the semi-finals slated for Friday 8th June 2012 will feature four of Kuwait’s top teams battling it out for a spot in the finals. United Friends Club play DHL FC at 6:30am and Navelim YC take on Don Bosco at 8:00am. The matches will be played at the Ministry of Health ground, Shuwaikh.