BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
PANAJI
Sporting Clube de Goa has been among the most prolific outfits in the premier domestic competition - Goa Pro League under the aegis of Goa Football association (GFA).
Not one to rest on their past laurels and unaware when the Pro League is to start for the forthcoming season, the
Flaming Oranje ensemble have left no pebbles unturned to put their best foot forward as defending champions
in the approaching new season.
Acknowledging that as title-holders, it does put pressure on the team to maintain its standing for another season, Head Coach Mateus Costa had this to say. “Of course, there is always a little bit of pressure to do something better than the last, like we were champions in 2015-16, runners-up in 2016-17 and again champions in 2017-18,” Costa admitted.
Reflecting on their overall performance last season, the head coach revealed it was an all-round contribution of their unit that fetched them the glory.
“For last year’s progression to being table-toppers at the conclusion of the league, the credit goes to the boys and everyone from the coaching staff to the kit boys and the management for sticking together as a unit for our achievement. Not forgetting, the fact that some of the youngsters really improved a lot.”
Despite the fact, they let in fewer goals than any other team in the last edition of the Pro League, he opines that is one area of the game they are keen to get better on. “Though we have conceded the least goals last season, we still want to improve on that aspect,” he pointed out.
Coming into the team this season are Gurpreet Singh (goalkeeper), Clive Miranda, Shubert D’costa, Kunal Kundaikar, Assumption Soares (defenders), Gautam Dias, Joston Cardozo, Cliffton Dias (midfielders), and Stendly Fernandes (forwards). From last season, Ponif Vaz (defender), Peter Carvalho (defensive midfielder), Joseph Pereira (midfielder) and Sunny Fernandes (forward) have moved elsewhere.
The team has a healthy blend of seasoned campaigners as well as young turks making the senior grade.
“Cajetan, Victorino, (Joseph) Clemente, Marcus, Glan, George, Ganesh, Mauvin have been with us a long time, while Clive, Kunal, Shubert, Joston, Stendly have graduated from our U-20 ranks. Cliffton, Gurpreet, Gautam have come in from Panjim Footballers (a side partly run by their club President Peter Vaz),” mentioned the former midfielder.
“For now, the team that hit their straps on August 6 with beach training at Miramar, are fully fit and it is a good sign,” stated the gaffer.
The team that will take the ground running on Aug 20 at Duler has the experienced team gaffer unconcerned on what the other teams in the fray looks like. “For me, every team in the league is important. There is no weak or strong team. So I want to focus on my team, keeping them focused and motivated,” Costa maintained.
