Darryl Duffy played a vital role in Green Brigade's final few seasons in I-League
VASCO
Salgaocar's decision to discontinue the senior and youth teams not only had the Goan football fraternity in disbelief but also struck a note internationally as Scottish striker and former Salgaocar forward, Darryl Duffy termed the development as a sad day for Goan football.
"I think it's a sad day, not just for Goan football but for Indian football. A club with so much history and a club which is very close to my heart, being my first foreign club outside of the UK," said the Scot who joined the Green Brigade in 2013.
"Myself and my family have many happy memories with football in Goa. Both my children still have their Salgaocar jerseys from my time there, they don't fit them anymore but they are wonderful keepsakes for them. We spent three very happy years there and met some wonderful people, inside and outside the club," he continued, reminiscing about his time in Goa.
Moving from Europe to India was no joke but the Scotsman hit the ground running with Salgaocar and endured an incredible first stint in Goa. With 14 goals to his name in the I-League, India's premier league back then, Duffy finished the 2013/14 campaign as the joint top-scorer along with Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC) and Cornell Glenn (Shillong Lajong FC).
"We played good football with the ball on the grass as much as possible, this was how the head coach, Derrick Pereira wanted to play and this was how I liked to play football and the style of football that got the best from me as an individual," said Duffy, adding that he never enjoyed or played well in long ball teams.
The forward's goal-scoring exploits made him a crowd favourite as Salgaocar Football Club (SFC) fought hard for silverware that year.
"We were reasonably successful, narrowly finishing second in the I-League behind Bengaluru, winning the Durand Cup. The fans were amazing with me from day one, I could feel the love from them and it spurred me on to work hard and try to bring as much joy to them as I could in return," revealed Duffy.
When asked about his most memorable moment at the club, the Scot claimed that winning the Durand Cup was the highlight of his stint at SFC.
"Winning the Durand Cup was a special day. Anytime you win a trophy at a football club it gives you memories that will last a lifetime," he reflected.
Salgaocar beat Pune FC 1-0 in the final of the 127th Durand Cup at Raia Sports Complex in November 2014 thanks to a Thangjam Saran Singh strike in the 21st minute.
"The players in the squad, the head coach, the staff, all great people that deserved that day for all the hard work they had done on a daily basis," he added.
Duffy also went on to win the Best Foreign Player of the Year award that year. The following season, the forward scored seven goals for Salgaocar in the I-League before being loaned out to FC Goa in 2015.
After completing three seasons with the Green Brigade where he emerged as the top-scorer in each campaign, Indian footballing giant Mohun Bagan roped in the Scottish striker as the club coach Sanjoy Sen believed that he would complement the team's attacking style of play.
Duffy bagged 13 goals and an assist in 25 appearances across all competitions for The Mariners.
Now back in Scotland, the 39-year-old still keeps a tab on Salgaocar.
"I always kept an eye on the club's progress when I left through social media, obviously I had to leave the club as they were not joining the ISL and pulled the team out of the I-League too, so I signed at that time for Mohun Bagan," said Duffy.
"Even then it was a sad time as myself and my family were so happy and settled in Goa with Salgaocar. I didn't want to sign for any other Goan team in the I-League either, that wouldn't have felt right to me," he revealed.
"However it was always a slight comfort that they did have a first-team still competing in the Goa Pro League. Now that is no longer the case I feel that Goan football will not be the same without Salgaocar," he said, reacting to the club's exit from the GPL and further added, "Hopefully, with time, the club can rise up once again and take its place with Indian football's elite."
