From L: Standing - Marcus Mascarenhas, Ozen Silva, Kunal Kundaikar, Gourav Kankonkar, Rohit Totad, Gautam Dias; Sitting: Welvin Menezes, Nathan Vaz, Natalina Vaz, Danira Vaz, Angelo Albuquerque, Savio Vaz.
MARGAO
Goa Professional League champions Sporting Clube de Goa felicitated their victorious team, coach and support staff in a function organised by the club.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, Sporting Clube had a brief function with the club president Natalina Vaz with her daughter Danira and son Nathan in attendance at Sporting's Club House at Don Bosco, Panaji.
Natalina stated that she was proud of the boys who gave their best to be eventually crowned champions. She added that she will continue with the legacy of her late husband, Peter Vaz, the founder president of the club. Nathan, who was part of the sub-junior State team that were national finalists (eventually losing to Jarkhand in Goa in 2015), stated that his main priority for the upcoming season is to retain the Goa Pro League title. Danira thanked Goa Football Association for their cooperation and ensuring that the Goa Professional League was successfully organised.
All the players and officials were felicitated and presented a memento by the club president. The following individual prizes were awarded: SCG Golden Boot Winner: Marcus Mascarenhas, SCG Golden Glove Winner: Ozen Silva, SCG Best Defender of the season 2020-21: Kunal Kundaikar, SCG Best Midfielder of the season 2020-21: Gautam Dias, SCG Best Striker of the season 2020-21: Marcus Mascarenhas, Young Player of the season 2020-21: Rohit Totad, Player of the season 2020-21: Gourav Kankonkar. The following officials were also present: Angelo Albuquerque, team manager; Savio Vaz, head coach; Sebastiao Noronha, Vikram Mane, Sandesh Gadekar, Alex Alvares, Ajay Acharya, Anthony Vas and Welvin Menezes, CEO.
Sporting Clube defender Kunal joins FC Goa
Sporting Clube de Goa defender Kunal Kundaikar has joined FC Goa. The transfer was confirmed by Sporting Clube president Natalina Vaz.
"I am proud to inform that our product Kunal Kundaikar has been spotted by ISL club FC Goa. The transfer is sealed and we shall close in on the paperwork somewhere next week," Vaz said. She added, "Our vision to give a platform to young players and see them move up the ladder gives me enough satisfaction that we are on the right path. Last season too, our player George D'Souza was spotted by another ISL club Odisha FC."
The 1998-born Goa Velha-based footballer started his playing career with his village club Goa Velha Sports Club and made his First Division League debut in the 2015-16 season. Kunal joined Panjim Footballers, the developmental team of Sporting Clube, and went on to help them in getting promoted to the Goa Professional League. He was a regular for Panjim Footballers and eventually got promoted to the senior team of Sporting Clube de Goa.
His performance throughout the Pro League season impressed many but it was FC Goa who reacted the quickest and are on the verge of completing their first signing of this season.
Kunal was ecstatic at the move. He said, "I am very happy to know that FC Goa had an interest in me. I will keep performing and improving my game as time goes by. I am eagerly waiting to join my new colleagues at FC Goa. I would like to thank the president, Natalina Vaz, CEO Welvin Menezes and manager Angelo Albuquerque for having given me this opportunity," Kunal said.
