Curtain came down on ‘Goal 2013,’ the All-Kerala Inter-collegiate Football Tournament, organised by ‘The New Indian Express’ Group, on Saturday. Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, which retained the title, received the trophy from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a glittering function held at the lake view ground of the Thevara Sacred Heart College where the tournament was held.
KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala presented the cash prize of Rs 1 lakh to the winners. Union Minister K V Thomas presented the ‘Runners Up’ trophy to Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha, while Minister K Babu presented the cash prize of Rs 50,000 for the runners-up.
The inaugural function also witnessed a special occasion when All-India Football Federation vice-president K M I Mather announcing a special match between ‘Goal 2013 All Star Eleven’ and the Santosh Trophy Kerala Team, in Kochi on February 11. The audience welcomed the announcement with wide applause.
‘The New Indian Express’ Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla, who presided over the function, said ‘Express’ would take all possible steps to promote football. Earlier, speaking at the pre-valedictory function, ‘The New Indian Express’ Resident Editor (Kerala) Vinod Mathew Jacob said the tournament would be organised extensively. Number of participating teams will be increased next year. “We are also planning to organise tournaments in Odisha and Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
Fisheries and Ports Minister K Babu, who is also the president of Ernakulam District Football Association, said that football was on revival path in Kerala.
Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany and Hibi Eden MLA presented the medals and certificates to the winners and runners-up.
Airtel Chief Operating Officer Sharan Shetty, Coca-Cola zonal head Ajai Kumar, ONGC Group GM Vanitha Kumar, Indian Oil Corporation General Manager A Pandian, Geojith BNP Paribas Executive Director Sharath Sharma and CGH Group Managing Director Jose Dominic were also present.