MARGAO
Head coach of Sesa Football Academy and former Goa coach for Santosh Trophy Charles Dias received the Coach of the Season award at the recent Goa Football Association awards function.
Dias who holds a AFC B Licence, guided the Goa team to finish as runners-up behind Services in the National Football Championship for Santosh trophy in Arunachal Pradesh. Sesa Football Academy also finished second in the Goa Professional League. Charles also guided Sesa Football Academy to win the Goa Police Cup.
Speaking after winning the award, Dias said, "A huge thanks goes out to the Goa Football Association and everyone who has supported and helped me relentlessly to help me achieve this today. There was always a desire to reach this point and this is an award it is a huge honor for us to receive this award."
"This award particularly recognises my work and it gives an amazing feeling of getting awarded for our efforts to spearhead the development of football in Goa," he added.
Charles was elated after being selected for the GFA Best coach award.
"It is a great honour for me. I always had faith in the football-governing body that my contributions to Goa would be recognised one day. I thank God for the award," said Dias when speaking to The Goan.
"There are regrets but I don't want to think about them. This is a momentous occasion for me and I think this award will be an inspiration for the next generation of Goan footballers," he said.
Hailing from Loutolim, Dias started his career with Salcete Football and then went on to represent Raia Sporting Club, Churchill Brothers FC, Vasco Sports Club, Cabral Sports Club, Sesa Football Academy and Sporting Clube de Goa Club which produced many footballing stars.
"Today, football is improving but I think the GFA is working hard to take the game to where it belongs. However, the onus is on former footballers like us, who have to play a major role in contributing to the development programme," he concluded.
