PANAJI
Former India football manager and Goa’s very own ‘son of the soil’ Armando Colaco has been chosen for the prestigious Dronacharya award.
The award in the ‘lifetime category’ is given to coaches to honour their outstanding work and for enabling athletes to achieve excellence in their chosen sport in top international competitions.
The award will be conferred by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17. Colaco is the first Dronacharya Awardee from Goa.
“The almighty has finally listened to my prayers. I dedicate the award to all the players, coaches, assistant coaches, managers and officials; especially Srinivas Dempo, Albert Colaco, Agnel Mascarenhas, Churchill Alemao, GFA President Caitano Fernandes”, said a visibly excited Armando after being nominated for the country’s highest sports award in coaching.
“I cannot forget the contributions of Dempo. He always encouraged and motivated me... gave me a free hand in whatever I wanted to do”, said Colaco.
Armando had a glorious partnership with the Dempos, first as a player between 1971 and 1985 and then as a coach, between 2000 and 2013.
During his tenure, Dempo Sports Club won a record five I-League titles and reached the semi-finals of the prestigious AFC Cup in 2008, a first for any Indian club. Apart from that, Dempos won Durand Cup, Super Cup and Federation Cup, all under Armando’s leadership. During his earlier stint with the Dempos (1989“90) as a coach, they won the Pomes Cup and Scissors Cup.
When Armando retired as a player in 1985, Alberto Colaço, then AIFF secretary, and Agnelo Mascarenhas, encouraged him to move into football coaching. And thus began a new journey for Armando the coach. And, the rest as they say is history.
Armando went on to coach the Indian national team, besides coaching the State’s U-21 Santosh Trophy team and Goa’s U-23 team at the BC Roy Trophy during early 90s.
Apart from that, Colaco coached various other clubs such as Salcete Football Club (1985-1988), Sesa Goa (1988-89), Churchill Brothers (1994-2000), Dempos (2000-2013) East Bengal (2013-2015), Bardez FC (2016-2018) and Sporting Club de Goa (2022 till date).
Armando also guided Churchill Brothers and East Bengal to runners-up position in I-League.
“I am really grateful to all that has happened. I cannot forget my assistant coaches of all the clubs especially Mauricio Afonso and Camilo Gonsalves,” he said.
Armando’s achievements and contribution to the game is truly legendary. He has not only been instrumental in producing good players but good coaches as well.
“My protégés Clifford Miranda, Mahesh Gawli, Climax Lourenco, Samir Naik have now become good coaches. I am really happy about that and hope they too win Dronacharya Award one day,” said Armando.
In fact, Armando is the only the third Indian football coach to receive the prestigious Dronacharya Award after Syed Naeemuddin (1990) and Bimal Prafulla Ghosh (2022).
“I hope the award will serve as a motivation to other Indian football coaches. If I can get it, so can others”, said Armando who traces his roots to Curtorim village in South Goa.
