Report by FKCA Media Team

Bengaluru, Nov 4: FKCA - Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations successfully conducted FKCA Konkan Kreedothsav -2016, for its member associations on October 30 at St John’s Medical College Grounds, Koramangala here.

This being the only annual sports meet of its kind, for the Konkani Catholic community in city, this year too as in the past, saw the enthusiastic participation of a large number of Konkani Catholics of Bengaluru and its surroundings.

The mega event began with welcoming the chief guest Ashish Ballal – former captain and acclaimed goalkeeper of the Indian Hockey Team. Ashish Ballal is known for his outstanding goalkeeping skills which won him laurels at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and Asian Games held at Thailand in 1998. Ballal hoisted the FKCA flag and in his inaugural address, complimented FKCA for organizing the annual sports and spoke in detail about the relevance of such events, in building up the spirit of Unity and fraternity among the Konkan Catholics residing in the vicinity of Bengaluru and among the members of FKCA’s affiliate associations, which thereby would contribute effectively for the growth of the Konkani Catholic community and thereby for the progress of the society at large.

Ballal said that it’s the responsibility of every parent to encourage their children into sports, since it is the best medium to build up a healthy body and mind and thereby contributes in building up a flourishing nation. He also suggested that we as Indians must encourage hockey which is the national game of the country.

The chairman of FKCA Arun Fernandes addressed all the member associations gathered and wished all the participants the very best to win laurels for their respective associations. Ashish Ballal declared open the Sports Meet, alongside the chairman, former chairmen and council members of FKCA, by releasing colourful balloons and doves into the sky. The chief guest felicitated the past chairmen of FKCA and presidents of all the member associations present. Anup Saldanha, general secretary of FKCA, proposed vote of thanks. The Chairman Arun Fernandes introduced the chief guest to the affiliated associations and the members clicked selfies, and posed with the legendry Indian goalkeeper.

Over 30 individual and team events marked the FKCA Konkan Kreedothsav -2016. Among the team events, Men’s cricket tournament saw as many as 7 teams sweating it out to be at the finals, and in the women’s throw ball, it was a contest between 6 teams from FKCA’s various member associations.

The eight overs-a-side cricket matches, which were held on knock-out basis, resulted in an interesting final contest between KCS – Yashwantpur and Koncab, in which KCS Yashwantpur bagged the winner’s trophy whereas Koncab had to settle down for the runners up trophy.

The women’s throw-ball tournament saw a high voltage and spirited fight between Konkani Samudai-Jayanagar and BKCS-Koramangala, in which BKCS-Koramangala emerged as the deserving winners and Samudai were runners up.

Besides this, variety of solo, couple and group athletic events such as, relay, running races, three legged race, balancing the ball, threading the beads, picking the chocolates, skipping race, couple races and many other events were conducted for the young men and women, the young at heart and for the tiny tots. The participants put in their best efforts to win prizes and bring honors and laurels to their respective associations. BKCS - Koramangala lifted the Overall Championship trophy at FKCA Konkan Kreedotsav-2016.

The events were sponsored by William Pinto and family –Bengaluru for Throw-ball, Wilson D’Souza and family for Cricket and Silvian Noronha and family sponsored the Champions Rolling Shield and all the Athletic events in memory of his late mother Flossy Noronha.

Wesley Fernandez the sports secretary of FKCA conducted the events, and Clemence D’Silva – Joint Secretary of FKCA compeered the entire event. Vikram D’Almeida of Almeida Studio, Bangalore captured memorable moments of the Sports Meet.

The entire FKCA Council, under the leadership of its chairman Arun Fernandes, put in their tireless efforts to make the event a ‘Big Success’.