Finalist TKMCE being awarded the winners trophy.

KUWAIT: The first inter alumni KIDs Football tournament conducted by College of Engineering Trivandrum Alumni Association (CETAA) saw TKMCE beat MACE 1-0 in a thrilling grand finale at SKELPS Football Academy Mehboula on April 1. The football tournament had six Alumni Associations of Kuwait Engineers Forum (KEF) fraternity.

The matches were conducted in a league cum knock out format with 3 teams in each pool playing against each other during the league stage. The top 2 teams from each pool qualified for the semifinals. It was inaugurated by Senior CETAA member George K John.

In pool A, NSS topped the group beating MACE 2-1 and TEC 4-0. MACE beat TEC 3-0 to regain the second spot in pool A. TEC bowed out of the tournament with straight losses to MACE and NSS. In pool B, KEA topped the group beating TKMCE 1-0 and CET 4-0.

TKMCE beat CET 2- 1, knocking the hosts CETAA out of the tournament. The first semifinal between TKMCE and NSSCE was a thrilling match; the match was evenly poised at 1-1 during half time, and with only 5 minutes to go before final whistle NSSCE unfortunately conceded a self-goal and had to crash out of the tournament losing to TKMCE 2-1. The second semi saw the match between favorites KEA and the “never say die” MACE. The mercurial strikers of KEA couldn’t penetrate the defense of MACE. Both teams played their heart out but couldn’t score a goal during the normal time and extra time. The match went to penalty shootout and MACE won by 2-0.

MACE goal keeper Naveen Georgi (Best goalkeeper of the tournament) saved 2 crucial goal kicks and made sure that they are in the finals. The final between TKMCE and MACE was an exciting battle and there were many excellent moves from both teams. Amit Suresh (Player of the finals and the tournament) scored the all-important goal in the second half and sealed the match for TKMCE. TKMCE had many match winners in their side and beat MACE 1-0 in the finals to lift the first CETAA KIDS Football Tournament trophy. The most promising youngster award was given to Kurien of CET. The winners and runners-up trophies along with medals were distributed by senior KEF members & family.