MARGAO
Salgaocar Legends beat Dempo Legends 4-2 in their annual exhibition match at Sinquetim ground, Navelim.
The veterans' match was an initiative of Fr Americo, assistant parish priest of Chorao Church, intended to revive football among the senior generation. The initiative to bring the tournament into the mainstream is to give adequate spotlight and importance to bridge the gap between younger and senior generations.
Fr Americo aspires to utilise the exhibition match as a campaign to promote and educate the masses about the history of Goan football; the legends who made it big while contributing towards the growth and development of football in the State.
Salgaocar Legends featured some of the prominent names of yesteryear, who represented Salgaocar and India, while Dempo Legends had stalwarts who represented Dempo and India. Both teams mesmerised the crowds with their skills and one-touch football. It was amazing to see some of the great legends of Goan football taking the field.
Salgaocar took the lead in the 12th minute when Francis Andrade's left-footer found the net to the left of a diving Avertano Furtado under the Dempo bar. Bibiano Fernandes levelled the scores eight minutes later when he scored from the penalty spot.
Salgaoncar went in the clear a second time to make it 2-1 when Vasco coach Mickey Fernandes converted from the penalty spot. Niclau Borges found an equaliser for Dempo 10 minutes into the second half, 2-2. Towards the end, Francis Andrade passed on to an unmarked Alvito D’Cunha to regain the lead while Domingos Vaz put the issue beyond doubt at the fag end when he received a pass from Alvito D’Cunha for an easy tap-in.
Bharat Morje, Franky Barreto, Robert Fernandes, Francis Andrade, Alvito D'cunha, Mickey Fernandes and Remus played excellent football for Salgaocar. The match was organised by Salgaocar Legends as part of their annual traditional fiesta. Earlier, a minute's silence was observed in memory of Salgaocar player Johny Pereira who died recently.
The prize for the Legends predicting the Qatar 2022 World Cup winner was won Victor J A Lobo (USA) after a draw of lots. Seven legends had correctly predicted that Argentina would be the Champions. The competition was organised by Gaspers World - Kuwait.
Salgaocar Legends: Brahmanand, Sanjeev, Bharat Morje, Franky Barreto, Derrick Pereira, Alvito D'Cunha, Gasper Crasto, Rocky Pereira, Venancio Gonsalves, Robert Fernandes, Nelson Landez, Mickey Fernandes, Bruno Coutinho, Alex Alvares, Mariano Dias, Rafiq Bepari, Francis Andrade, Augustine Rodrigues, Remus, Arnold Afonso, etc.
Dempo Legends: Avertano Furtado, Mahesh Lotlikar, Climax Lawrence, Sameer Naik, Mahesh Gawli, Anthony Alphonso, Marcus Carvalho, Melwyn, Alexander, Johny de Cruz, Jerry, FernandesVincent Colaco, Kanaan, Priolkar Peter, Elvis, Alex, Ambrose Nicholas, Mathew, Domnic, Fr Americo, etc.
