In India, the rivalry between East
Bengal and Mohun Bagan is well documented. In Goa, Dempo SC cannot rest on its
laurels as long as its fierce rival Salgaocar FC is around. Even though of late
both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have not lived up to their reputation, their
fans have supported them through thick and thin by coming in great numbers
whenever the two clash in Kolkata. The same thing cannot be said about the
Dempo- Salgaocar clash in Goa. In the eighties, the very mention of the
Dempo-Salgaocar encounter would create huge hype and hoopla and was the talk of
the state. Passionate fans would come in good numbers to watch them play and
after the match discussions would go on for days together, everywhere, more
particularly in the local bars over a glass of beer. It had much to do with the
quality of Goan players with both the clubs. Salgaocar had fantastic players
like Brahmand,Oscar Rebello,Anton Rebello,Arnold Rodrigues,Jose D’Souza, Bento
Andrew,Derrick Pereira,Lawrence Gomes and on the other side Dempo SC was packed
with stars like Nicholas Pereira,Mahesh Lotlikar, Mauricio Afonso,Herbert San,Lector
Mascarenhas, Francis D’Souza, Dionisio Trinidade,Camilo Gonsalves,Jose Fernandes
who captivated the hearts and minds of the fans. With age catching up with these
stalwarts, barring a few, it was curtains down for most of them by the start of
the nineties.
The decade of nineties brought in
fresh pair of legs in Savio Madeira,Mario Soares, Bruno Coutinho, Roy Barreto, Franky
Barreto, Robert Fernandes, Jules Alberto and others who ensured that the
Salgaocar flag was kept flying. By the turn of the new millennium, it was Dempo,
with some initial hiccups, who took centre stage with the likes of Climax
Lawrence, Mahesh Gawli,Samir Naik, Anthony Pereira,Clifford Miranda, all
representing the Indian team too. But somewhere down the line the last two
decades saw a decline of the intense rivalry between the two great clubs in
Goa. It was the case of one club dominating and the other failing to give it a
run for its money. And with such a scenario, the spectators too lost interest
and failed to turn up in numbers whenever the two clubs played. Poor attendance
has been a matter of great concern for both the clubs and to Goa Football
Association too. Without intense rivalry football cannot progress.
The new season 2013-14 promises
to be good for both the clubs. For the first time, the Goa Pro League is being
played at GFA owned Duler Ground,Mapusa having a perfect surface of artificial
turf, come rain or sunshine. The attendance for the matches is on the
ascendency. Two other I League clubs, Churchill Bros and Sporting Clube de Goa
are also favourites to win the Goa Pro League title but pale in comparison to the
rivalry of Dempo-Salgaocar, the two oldest clubs in Goa. In the eighties, two
renowned coaches, late Bob Bootland(Dempo) and Late T Shanmugam were at the helm of affairs. They took the
club rivalry to greater heights. Now we have two excellent young coaches in
Arthur Papas(Dempo) and Derrick Pereira(Salgaocar) who are also capable of doing better, with passion and professionalism being their forte.
Both the clubs have also signed quality foreign players.
All professional clubs must
undertake community service to increase their fan base. Salgaocar FC is
traditionally known to have better fan base in South Goa where they even have a
tie up with two schools for promotion of football at the grassroots. Dempo SC
with its headquarters in Panaji definitely garners more support from the North
Goa and has also adopted two schools. These ventures will definitely improve
the standard of schools football and also benefit the clubs in a long run.
Indian football was hurt very
badly In the past when teams like Mafatlal SC, Tata SC, Mahindra SC and JCT were
disbanded. But with the likes of Shri Shivanand Salgaocar( Salgaocar FC) and
Shri Shrinivas Dempo(Dempo SC), both club owners supporting football to the
hilt, it is a win- win situation to Goan and Indian Football.
Great article to read
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