By Gasper Crasto, Kuwait
Kuwait: Dempo played their hearts out till the end but could not overcome the Kuwaitis in the AFC Cup pre-quarter one-off knockout at Keifan Stadium here on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
The ‘physically strong’ Kuwait Sporting Club won the match 3-1. The victory enabled Kuwait to advance to the quarter-finals. Jehad Alhussien Fadel scored a hat-trick for the winners.
The Goan team was undone by 2 penalties awarded justly by the referee either half of the match. Dempo defenders Domnic Noronha and Samir Naik hacked down the Kuwaiti strikers in both instances while the other goal was scored off a corner kick lapse.
Dempo striker Ranty Martins received marching orders after a second booking at the fag end of the match for arguing with the referee.
The Kuwaitis struck in the 20th minute of the first half. That lead held until the 60th minute of the second half when the Arabs scored another unimpressive of their goals off a corner. However, when Brazilian Beto scored a goal for Dempo (2-1) in the 70th minute, things seemed interesting for Dempo coach Armando Colaco.
Dempo looked superior to Kuwait at times in the second half with Sameer, captain Climax Lawrence, Anthony Pereira, Ranty and Beto combining superbly, but overall, the Kuwaitis had several near misses in the match. While the Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal was kept busy at work throughout, Dempo’s efforts to penetrate past Kuwait were bottled by 2 giant stopper backs and one of the tallest goalkeepers seen in football.
Contrary to low key spectator expectations to the first match by a Goan outfit in Kuwait, the game was marked by a large number of expatriate (almost all-Goan) spectator response with some fans sporting the Dempo colors, and booing the ref with the famous Goan ‘uushh’. There were fans with drums, banners and the stand allocated for Dempo was over filled. It was an international match (if fellows in Indian organizations in Kuwait know the meaning) between one of the top Indian clubs and the Kuwaitis.
The match was able to catch the imagination of many die-hard Indian football fans especially the number of Goans residing in Kuwait who are denied watching ‘quality football’ in recent years. Thanks to the worthless administrators and promoters involved around, half the people playing are unaware of their own standings in local competitions, leave alone the chances of others.
When Brazil played Kuwait at Keifan stadium in 2006, the stadium was jam packed. Dempo are no Brazil but given the popularity and fan following of the Goan team, the support received by Dempo was tremendous. One can imagine the difference in the spectator response; there were hardly any expatriate flies for the Kuwait match against Mohun Bagan a few weeks ago.
In temperatures as high as 44°C, the best of players find it difficult to retain their balance or run at full speed and control the ball in a country like Kuwait at this time of the year. Cheers to Dempo for giving the Kuwaitis a run for the money.
About the Writer
Gasper Crasto is a former National level player.
Played for Salgaocar from 1990-91 to 1998-99. Played in the National League and 2 Federation Cup Finals – one against Mohun Bagan (Goa - 1993-94), other against East Bengal (Salt Lake, Culcutta - 1995-96), besides representing Goa at Santosh Trophy and playing in various tournaments.
Awarded ‘Athlete of the Year’ in Kuwait in 2003
Current player/coach of League Champions Navelim Youth Centre.
Website: http://gaspersworld.tripod.com/