NELASA 2009 Annual Awards Banquet

By Aquiles Araujo
December 07, 2009

NELASA 09

NELASA officially ended the 2009 soccer season with a grand gala on Friday December 4, at the Portuguese National Club in Stoughton.  In the men’s category, Clube Tabanka was the year’s biggest winners by winning the Championship Trophy and the Super Cup. Dinamo da Brava was a close second for winning the NELASA Cup. 

Mario Santos, president, took the opportunity, to address the crowd with the news that he would not seek out a second two year term. In the past two seasons since the “re-birth”, NELASA moved its headquarters to Brockton, and its member clubs heightened the quality of soccer that had been lacking for several years, to a level that is second to none in the New England amateur circle.  This fact has been seen most recently, by the successes of Imigrantes Das Ilhas by winning the 2009 Massachusetts State Cup and booking a place in the 2010 USASA Regional. In 2009, NELASA, successfully experimented with its first ever NELASA Women’s League.  The teams demonstrated a good level of entertainment and they are hoping to increase their quality and visibility in 2010.  With the introduction of the women’s league, NELASA also hopes to bring more awareness and support to its social civic duties. 

Many in the community also would like to see a youth soccer league formed in the next several months.  It is common knowledge that youth who get involved in sports are less likely to be drawn in risky activities.  Many young adults are roaming our streets without jobs or healthy recreations.  NELASA teams are formed by nearly 500 young adults and professional people spanning over the toughest communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, namely, the cities of Boston, Brockton, and Pawtucket.  Although, most of the current players are young adults, an introduction of the youth league would allow for kids younger than 16 years old to participate. 

The league recognized several businesses and volunteers for their long serving support of NELASA.  In a continual effort to reach out into the general community beyond sports, the organizers welcomed a community outreach raffle sale from the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center. Time was also given to a donation call for a surviving family of a devastating 2 alarm fire in Brockton that took place on Thanksgiving.

Award Recipients - Sponsors
Restaurant Sodadi
Ace Insurance Agency
Vicente’s Tropical Groceries & Liquors
Victor Rosario (Notary Public)
Universal Food Mart
Tony’ Barber Shop
Alves grocery

Award Recipients - Collaborators
Valdir Alves (Cabo Video and radio Porton di nos Ilha)
Adalberto De Pina (Zito) Criolosports.com
Salomao Fonseca Futebolcriolo.com
Alberto Pina (FORCV.com)
Carlos Chaves (Lalai) Freelance Photographer
Djon Correia Freelance Photographer
Erico Correia

Recognition Awards
Emigrantes das Ilhas for their success in the 2009 US Amateur and Open Cups
Jack Andrade for his dedication and tireless efforts working with the youth

Individual Awards
Referee of the year – Rachel Woo
League Best Delegate – John Monteiro (Strela Negra)
Female Best Goalkeeper – Jacinta Feliciano (Kriolas Futebol Club)
Male Best Goalkeeper – Fortunato Ribeiro (Alianca CV)
Female top Goal Scorers (2) were tied with 9 goals:
Ineida De Pina (Kriolas Futebol Clube) & Marlinda Dias (Dangerous Girls)
Male Top goal scorer - Manuel De Pina with 17 goals (Fidjos Terra)

Team Awards
Grupo A Winners – Alianca CV
Grupo B Winners – Sporting RI
Female 5th Place – Neves Travel
Female 4th Place – Mindelo Association
Female 3rd Place – Nos Bandera Girls
Female 2nd Place – Kriolas Futebol Clube
Male 4th Place – Strela Negra
Male 3rd Place – Fidjos Terra
Male 2nd Place – Sporting RI
Fair Play Winner - Boston Futebol Clube
Cup Winner – Dinamo da Brava
Super Cup Winner – Clube Tabanka
Female Champions – Dangerous Girls
Male Champions – Clube Tabanka