Ponda: Quepem taluka football team owned by Soiru Velip became Winners of first knock out taluka level football tournament organised by Gomantak Gaud Maratha Samaj at Curti Ponda.
Tiswadi football team owned by Pundalik Gawas became Runners up in the tournament.
Quepem team beaten Tiswadi team by 4-3 in penalty shoot after full-time match was draw 1-1.
Captain of Quepem team Krupesh Gaonkar was awarded man of the match in the final while Aniket Velip was awarded best striker player.
A total 8 teams were participated in the tournament which includes Quepem, Canacona, Sanguem, Dharbandora, Bicholim Tiswadi, Antruz Ponda and Ponda.
Tournament was inaugurated by the Agriculture Minister and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik in the presence of former MLA and organising chairman Prasad Gaonkar, senior scale civil service officer Ajay Gaude, Gomantak Gaud Maratha Samaj president Madhu Gaonkar, secretary Shyam Sangodkar, Treasurer Barkelo Gaonkar, executive member Ramakant Gaonkar, Dinesh Zalmi and other office bearers.
Speaker of Goa legislative assembly and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar was chief guest for prize distribution ceremony of the tournament. Tawadkar handed over prizes to winning team and other individual prizes to the players. Chairperson of Goa state Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Deepak Karmarkar, ZP member Dhaku Madkaikar, former Sarpanch of Bhoma village panchayat Sunil Bhomkar, Prof Devanand Velingkar and other guests were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Tawadkar congratulated winner, runners teams and players for their performance.
He also appreciated the team of Gomantak Gaud Maratha Samaj for taking this initiative to bring youth from community under one banner.
He appealed youth to work for the betterment of the community.
