KUWAIT INDEPENDENT HOCKEY CLUB WIN 4th DON BOSCO ORATORY HOCKEY TOURNAMENT - 2012

Ahmadi - Kuwait, May 15, 2012

After electrifying victories over K.O.C Green in the semi finals The Kuwait Independent hockey (KIH) Gold was all set to taken on K.O.C Blue in the 4th Don Bosco Oratory Open Hockey Tournament Finals for men. Played at K.O.C Hockey ground at Ahmadi.
KOC Blue were completely overshadowed by KIH Gold who took control of the game in the mid field for the entire first half. And in the eleventh minute managed to find the net through Bobby Rodrigues from a lovely cross by KIH star center half Mustan.

KIH Gold had been in a splendid form from the start of the tournament with a lot of changes to the side, withe some new faces being added to the team. This has been the best KIH Hockey side fielded in since the last 4 years. Where as KOC Blue missing their veteran Pakistan National center half Mr. Shoukat central defense Abdulghafar and right wing Tanveer all back home in Pakistan on their vacation showed clear sign of the vacuum could not be filled. Yet, they (KOC) had a lot to prove and had to adapt strategies to thwart differing the challenges.

KIH Gold's aggressive forwards Topper, Bobby, Flo and Shervin were kept at bay by then strong and well organized defense supported by Wassim (KOC Blue). The second half have seen a much more aggression from KOC Blue team. Similar to what KIH Gold did in the first half. With KOC blue further tighten their defense strategy to take down KIH, who were looking at winning their first tournament this season. big blow hit KIH Gold into the 14 minutes in the second half, when Flo was show the red card for misconduct on a KOC defender, added the pressure on KIH defense. It was only because of some great defending by Eddie, Reggie and some brilliant goalkeeping managed to keep the score 1/0 until the final hooter.

The Chief Guest Rev. Fr. Blany Pinto - SDB, and the Guest of Honor, Rev. Fr. Francisco Pereira - SDB had witness a good game of hockey. Players on the field had mufti-nationals participating and playing in the true spirit of the game. The tournament results were all the "K's": KIH - Gold (Winners), KOC Blue (Runners up), KOC Green (3rd Place); and KOC White (4th Place). Other participating teams were, International Red, KIH - Black and Don Bosco Oratory.

The organizers thanked the Kuwait Oil Company for the use of the ground facilities, the match officials led by Mr. Shafique and the Kuwait Hockey Sub Committee for the support and organizing the tournament. And thanking all the club managers for the encouragement who kept check throughout the tournament. And look forward to organize an inter-school event here in Kuwait, this sport of Hoceky will be kept alive and promoted by DBO.

The next tournament will be conducted by KOC - Blue, which commence on May 18, 2012.