Salgaocar Sports Club: Super champs of India

Sheer love for the game made late Vasudev M. Salgaocar found Salgaocar Sports Club as Vimson in 1955. The late Vasudev Salgaocar was a great enthusiast of sports and he took special interest in football. With his dynamic entrepreneurship the House of Salgaocar made a signifIcant contribution to the Goan economy and with his objective to bring about systematic development of the game, Salgaocar Sports Club contributed immeasurably towards the upliftment of the game in Goa.

The tradition continues till date by his sons, Shivanand and Dattaraj, and under their mantle, Salgaocar has been able to win many laurels in football mainly because of their emphasis on youth, in the team.

The V. M. Salgaocar Group, the organisation that stands behind the club, is amongs the most widely known industrial conglomerates in Goa, with business interest covering mining and export of iron ore to some of the world''s largest steel mills in Japan and South Korea, as also travel, health and the hospitality business.

As the industrial empire of the Salgaocar Group spread, it was the thinking of the group, that the rewards of business should be ploughed back into the community by way of helping the youth of the state, to take to the coveted game of football. And above all is the strong commitment to discipline, devotion and fairplay - a policy that is zealously followed even today, which is reflected in Salgaocars winning the fair play award in the Durand Cup in 1985-86, the Airlines Soccer Cup in 1985-86 and the Federation Cup and National League in 1997-98 and in the 1998-99 National League, where they emerged champions.

Salgaocar availed the services of a number of outstanding footballers and won some major tournaments such as the Bedford Cup, the Salgaocar Silver Cup and the Salgaocar Gold Cup (known as Taca de Ouro in those days) tournaments in the initial stages. The team, which had players like Telles, Arcanjo Furtado, Caetano Rodrigues, Roquezinho Gracias, Agustino Fernandes, Tony Gonsalves, Amrut, Inacio Jose, Joaquim Goes, Gregory Goes, Fanchu, Anthony Monteiro, Eustaquio Souza, Menino Figueiredo, Marto Gracias, Candido Abreu and Vassu Raiturcar, won the Second Division League championship with an unbeaten record in 1957. Salgaocar won the First Division League championship for the fIrst time in 1961 and had no difficulty at all in retaining the title until 1963-64.

Henry Britto, who has been with Salgaocar for the last 34 years, in the role of a player, coach, manager and now General Secretary of the Super Champion Club of India recalls, "Salgaocar had a redoubtable side on the eve of liberation and I had the fortune of witnessing the team''s performances. Suresh Kudchadkar played as a centre forward along with Vassu Raiturkar, Ainsao Coutinho, Anthony and Santan. Vassu was a real play maker and Salgaocar scored several goals off his defence splitting passes. He had superb ball control and a wonderful dribbling ability. The Europeans who played for teams like Academica, BenfIca etc. were very uncomfortable and used to get annoyed as Vassu literally toyed with them and scored with ease. While the spectators derived immense pleasure from his beautiful game, the opponents had a harrowing time in containing him. Ainsao had a terrifIc shot and a penchant for scoring goals through volleys. Suresh also scored a number of goals for Salgaocar alongside Vassu and Ainsao. His shots were a treat to watch. Salgaocars'' keeper Mestre was a brilliant goalkeeper and he was always happy to keep goal as the team had a strong defence, which included A1cantra Barreto, Candido Abreu, Menino Figueiredo and Caetano Rodrigues. At one stage, Salgaocar had four Europeans in the side, these being Mestre, Bagorro, Pinho and Brandao. Bagorro also coached the side and he strictly advised the players to avoid playing a rough game. That was his rule number one. Pinho was very impressive in the midfIeld and Brandao was a brilliant forward."

"Undoubtedly it was the strongest side in the pre-liberation period," says Suresh, to which Candido Abreu agrees. "It was a perfectly well-balanced side with excellent performers in every department of the game.

The opponents found it very difficult to penetrate our defence and then to beat Mestre in the goal. Baggor was a fIne coach and we all performed well under his guidance. Vassu was a brilliant performer on the right flank and he took the rival defenders for a ride with his intelligent game. It was a treat to watch Vassu get past a host of defenders and pave the way for a goal for the other forwards. Ainsao Coutinho and Suresh Kudchadkar, the two sharp shooters found fetching goals for the team an easy job. Joaquim Goes a powerful header of the ball, was one of the best footballers of our time and played for Vasco late in his career," adds Candido, who says he was fortunate enough to play in the company of Menino Figueiredo, A1cantra Barreto and Caetano Rodrigues.

Joaquim Goes, who played for Salgaocar from 1955 to 1963 after assisting Vasco Sports Club, served Salgaocar as the coach for a couple of seasons. Goes was a member of Vasco Eleven that won the Bedford Cup tournament organised by Auto Service at Vasco in 1955. The late B. M. Parkkot, who hailed from Trichur (Kerala), served as the export manager for the House of Salgaocar, at that period of time. He had an immense interest in football and his managerial expertise enabled Salgaocar to emerge into a formidable side.

Salgaocar won the Salgaocar Gold Cup for three years in a row from 1956 to 1958, lifting the trophy in the very first year beating Vasco Sports Club, 3-1, in the final. It was indeed a remarkable achievement for Salgaocar, considering the fact that it was a Second Division League side that took the seasoned Vasco Sports Club in its stride. Salgaocar had also crushed Sporting, 19-1, in a First Division League match.

According to Joaquim Goes, the Salgaocar players were offered the same facilities that were being offered by Tata Sports Club, Bombay, a leading team of India, in those days.

The late B. M. Parkkot, who was in charge of the Salgaocar team, was highly respected by the players, for he had immense interest in the game. With Parkkot managing the team very efficiently, the players were determined to win every tournament. "He treated the players extremely well and he knew how to induce them to give in their best. Salgaocar Sports Club owes a lot to B M Parkkot," Goes recalls.

Thanks to Parkkot''s effort, Salgaocar participated in the Durand Cup tournament at Delhi in 1962, and became the first Goan team to take part in a major outstation tournament. Football fans in Delhi praised the Goan style of play. Prime Minister, lawaharlal Nehru hosted a tea-party for the team at his residence and this was a great moment for the Salgaocar squad.

This was followed by Salgaocar''s first ever outstation victory. They beat Punjab Police 1-0 in the Nagpur Rovers Cup in the finals in 1971.

Salgaocar was extremely unlucky not to have got the better of Mohun Bagan in the semi-final of the Rovers Cup, Mumbai, that same year. Salgaocar held Mohun Bagan to a 1-1 draw. Mohun Bagan took the lead through Subhash Bhowmick, although it was clearly an off side goal. Ganguli had released a pass to Bhowmick and the Salgaocar goalkeeper Subhash Sinari finding Bhowmick in an off side position, did not make any attempt to stop the ball from entering the net.

Salgaocar got the equaliser through Albino and play became intensely exciting. However the teams shared two goal~ at the end of regulation time. In the replayed match, Dastidar won the day for Mohun Bagan, scoring the match-winner towards the end of extra time, through a dubious penalty awarded by the referee, to deprive Salgaocar of its first ever entry into the finals of the Rovers Cup. Sinari was the most disappointed person, as he had almost managed to make a save.

Salgaocar''s bad luck continued at the Sri Narayana Memorial tournament at Cannan ore. They ended runner-up to ASC losing in the finals. Salgaocar took part in the Nizam Gold Cup tournament for the first time in 1975. They did well to reach the [mal, with a 2-1 victory over holders RAe. Magan Singh, Chain Singh and Prahl ad Singh, the three brothers, constituted a strong attacking force for the famed Rajasthan side. But the Salgaocar defenders Vishwas, Coutinho and Inacio Piedade, did extremely well in containing the wily India striker Magan Singh Rizvi. Goalkeeper Brahmanand guarded the goal admirably. Francis Rodrigues and Zai D''Costa scored the goals for Salgaocar.

They, however, failed to put it across Tata Sports Club in the final. The final had to be replayed, as it ended in a 1-1 draw. Zai scored for Salgaocar and Shabir Ali netted for Tata. A defensive lapse on the part of Salgaocar saw Shabir Ali (incidentally current coach of Salgaocar) securing the match-winner for his side in the replay.

In 1977-78 Salgaocar again failed to come up trumps, when victory was knocking at their doorsteps, in the Mammen MapiIIai tournament at Quilon, losing to Premier Tyres 0-2 in the finals.

However in the same year they emerged Goa''s Super League champions. This boosted Salgaocar''s morale and they went on to win the 1978 Puttiah Memorial tournament at Bangalore, defeating Vasco in the final, by a solitary goal.

A second half goal off a corner kick by right back Inacio Piedade, helped Salgaocar to win the replayed final. The first meeting had ended in a goalless draw. This has been one of the few instances on which the final of an outstation tournament had proved to be an all-Goa affair. The following year Salgaocar won the T.EA. Shield in Madurai beating ITI, 1-0 but lost to Sesa Goa in the All India Bandodkar Gold trophy 0-1 in the finals.

The Federation Cup tournament was first conducted in 1977 to decide the champion club of the country, under the aegis of the All India Football Federation. Salgaocar has performed exceptionally well in this competition and had shown remarkable consistency in it. They had come very close to making the final of the 1985 tournament at Bangalore when they went down to Mohun Bagan in the tie-breaker in the semi-final after taking a 3­1 lead. This was the beginning of their remarkable turn around.

Subsequently, the Salgaocar Football team turned out to be the first and only Goan team to have entered the finals of the Federation Cup six times, four in a row and won the trophy in 1988 beating BSF (1-0), trouncing, Mohamedans Sporting (2-0) in 1989 and eventually winning the trophy for the third time in 1997 when they beat East Bengal (2-1).

This coveted trophy is now known as the Kalyani Black Label Trophy. Salgaocar, reached the Federation Cup final for the first time, beating Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), 3-1, on aggregate in the double-leg semi-final of the 1987 tournament at Cuttack. Salgaocar, however, lost the final to Mohun Bagan by two goals and had to rest content as the runner-up.

The Salgaocar team which played in the final included the following players: Brahmanand, Mariano Dias, Norbert Gonsalves, Hercules Gomes, Johnny Pereira, Savio Madeira, Anthony Baptista, Lawrence Gomes, Sarto Baptista, Cyril Dias and Ignatius Dias (Bento Andrew).

Salgaocar stamped their mark on the Federation Cup at Delhi, the following year, 1988, the first Goan team to have done so. Having distinguished themselves as a force to reckon with in this competition, they defeated Border Security Force by a solitary goal in the final, to emerge Champion Club of India, a historic moment for Goan football. Mario Soares, the youngest player in the side, scored the all important goal in extra time off a beautiful pass from the Nigerian forward, Valentine Ezeugo.

The triumphant side consisted of the following players: Brahmanand, Hercules Gomes, Norbert Gonsalves (captain), Derrick Pereira, Johnny Pereira, Savio Madeira, Lawrence Gomes, Koshgavar (Bento Andrew), Mario Soares and Valentine Ezuego.

Earlier in the semi-final Salgaocar trailed East Bengal by two goals in the tie-breaker, but staged a remarkable recovery to beat the Calcutta giants, 5-4, before the final whistle. Salgaocar scored the match-winner in sudden death through Hercules Gomes. Valentine Ezuego, Norbert Gonsalves and Derrick Pereira had converted the penalty kicks to place it on level terms with East Bengal at 3-3.

In 1989, Salgaocar lost the services of as many as seven players in the inter club transfers, five of them to MRF. They faced MRF in the opening quarter-final league match of the 1989 Federation Cup tournament at Coimbatore and a goal by Bruno Coutinho helped them prevail. The victory was a great morale booster for Salgaocar and they went on to retain the prestigious cup at Coimbatore, continuing as Champion club of India.

Salgaocar completed the hat-trick at Coimbatore of making it into the Federation Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Mohun Bagan in the semi-finals. This was their maiden victory over the glamorous Calcutta outfit. Ignatius Dias scored in the first half of extra time and the second half started with the two teams on level terms at 1-1. Bento Andrew stole the honours for Salgaocar with a gem of a goal and it was rated as the best goal of the championship. His stinging drive not only earned Salgaocar an entry into the final but also fetched his club, its first ever win over Mohun Bagan.

Salgaocar was determined to put it across Mohammedan Sporting in the final, 2-0. They succeeded in doing so and retained the cup in the process. The side for the final was: Brahmanand, Roque Carneiro, Norbert Gonsalves, Johnny Pereira, M Babu, Lawrence Gomes, Bento Andrew, Bruno Coutinho, Valentine Ezuego and Ignatius Dias (Jude Fernandes).

Salgaocar, however, failed to perform the hat-trick of winning the Federation Cup as they lost the 1990 final to Kerala Police at Trishur. Kerala Police got the better of Salgaocar, 2-1, to become the first team from Kerala to win the club championship of the country. Salgaocar missed some good chances and had to pay dearly for their lethargic approach. Bruno was well policed by the sturdy rival defenders and egged on by the vast legion of supporters, Kerala Police coached by the former international T K Chatunni, emerged the deserving winner. Salgaocar''s lone goal was netted by Santan Colaco.

Salgaocar gave a splendid performance in the semi-final against East Bengal. They held the psychological advantage over East Bengal, having beaten the Bengalis in the Rovers Cup tournament (1982), Bordoloi Shield tournament (1985), DCM tournament (1983) and the Federation Cup tournament (1982). Salgaocar gave a classic display and made it to the final with a 3­2 win over East Bengal which had stars like Atanu Bhattacharya, Sudeep ChatteIjee, Tamn Dey, Kabir Bose, Moinul Islam, Babu Mani, Kuljeet Singh and Chima Okerie. Chima, the highest paid foreigner in Indian Football, was easily the best striker on view and he scored both the goals for East Bengal, the second off a penalty kick which was awarded to them when he was brought down in the box by Norbert Gonsalves. Salgaocar won the match in extra time, Bruno, Savio and Lawrence being the scorers.

Three years later,in 1994, the Federation Cup was hosted by the Goa Football Association and Salgaocar entered the final, which was being played at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium at Margao. In the final they met Mohun Bagan and both teams battled it out for supremacy. The match was deadlocked, the scoreboard reading 0-0. In the tie-breaker Mohun Bagan pumped in three goals while Salgaocar were unlucky, not being able to find the net and had to be content as runner-up.

In 1997-98 Salgaocar Sports Club brought the Kalyani Black Label Federation Cup back to Goa, taming the Bengal tigers East Bengal 2-1 in their own den, Calcutta, in the final. Salgaocars'' victory was in the presence of over a lakh of East Bengal spectators. When Bengal scored the entire stadium rose to cheer their team to a deafening roar. Bruno put paid to the ecstasy of the crowd, with two brilliant powerful goals, silencing the East Bengal supporters. Indeed, consistency has been the hall mark of Salgaocar in the Federation Cup tournament.

But Salgaocar refused to stop short of just being the Champion Club of India. The National League had just been launched in the country and in just the third year of the National League, came the icing on the cake. Salgaocar placed itself on the top of the pool after walking past all its opponents to be crowned Football Kings of India, grabbing the Coca Cola National Football League title. What is more important is the manner in which Salgaocars went about their victorious march to clinch the title. Before even the league fixtures were completed, Salgaocar notched up an unassailable points lead that ensured them the title, a record in the Indian League so far. They confirmed their superiority, convincingly beating JCT (2-0), in their inconsequential last league fixture.

Another highlight of this National Football League was that Salgaocar not only gained the maximum number of points (23), but also scored the maximum number of goals as well (17). The runners-up East Bengal managed to score only 12 goals. It was another record for a Goan team. With regard to the Rovers Cup Salgaocar became the third Goan team, to reach the final of that tournament in 1985. But Mohun Bagan got the better of Salgaocar, through a brace by Sishir Ghosh. Salgaocar had a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead in the initial stages of the game, but Bento Andrew could not find the net from close range. Salgaocar had their moment of glory in the 1990 Rovers Cup tournament, when it defeated Dempo by a solitary goal in the final. Having won a number of major tournaments, they had a major ambition to win the Rovers Cup. It was Bruno Coutinho who delivered the goods for the Club, through an opportunistic goal in the 36th minute of the first half. A misunderstanding in the box between the Dempo defenders, Mathew and Nazario, with regards to a long lob from Johnny Pereira, saw Bruno seizing the opportunity to slam the match-winner for Salgaocar.

In 1996-97 Salgaocar entered the final of the Rovers Cup for the third time and won the championship beating Air India through a solitary goal by Michael. Two years later, in 1999, Salgaocar inscribed their name on the Rovers Cup for the third time beating Churchill Brothers by a solitary goal through Brazilian Joao Santos.

Salgaocar has entered the finals of the All India Bandodkar Gold Trophy on seven occasions, winning twice, routing Mahindra, 4-0, in 1988 and beating MPT 1-0 in 1992. They were five times runner-up - in 1979 losing to Sesa, 0-1; in 1982 to Dempo 0-3; in 1984 again to Dempo 0-2 and for the third time to Dempo in 1990, the score being 3-4 via the tie-breaker. Salgaocar could not break the jinx against their traditional rivals Dempo, in the Bandodkar, losing to them once again in 1995 by two goals.

Salgaocar became the second Goan team to win the Sait Nagjee tournament at Calicut in 1988, beating the formidable Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting in the final through a solitary goal scored by Savio Madeira. Savio''s powerful shot culminated in a gem of a goal for Salgaocar.

Salgaocar had earlier entered the final in the 1984-85 Sait Nagjee tournament but lost to JCT via the tie-breaker after defeating Mohammedan Sporting in the semi-final.

Salgaocar won the tenth all-India Naya Duniya Trophy tournament in 1990-91, defeating BSF by a solitary goal in the final at Indore. The all important goal was scored by Bento Andrew. Salgaocar also emerged champions in the Tamil Nadu Football Association Shield in Madurai in 1979 beating ITI 1-0 and in 1982 they shared the honours with Cochin Port Trust, this time played at Trichy. Salgaocar emerged champions of the Nehru Gold Cup at Hyderabad in 1983-84 beating Punjab Police 1-0 in the final.

Salgaocar Sports Club has come a long way, not just to establish themselves as the State''s best, but that of the nation too. As we step into the new millennium, Salgaocars'' flag flies high.

As the saying goes - Charity begins at home, Salgaocar began first strengthening their roots on home ground. Between 1977-78 and 1999-2000, Salgaocar emerged Goa''s champion club on nine occassions. They also won the TACA Goa trophy thrice, earning for themselves a place of honour in the hearts of its football loving fans.

If Salgaocar achieved a grand double in 1988-89 when they became the champion club of the country and also the champion club of Goa, 1999-2000 has definitely been a historic grand slam, the best for Salgaocar. After emerging champions of the Coca­Cola National Football League in early 1999, Salgaocar had their best ever run later that year. With their victory at the Rovers Cup on 15th November, 1999, Salgaocar made history 10 days later, winning the Durand Cup, the first ever Goan team to do so. Ironically 37 years ago it was at this very tournament, that Salgaocar, managed by James Fernandes of Margao, became the first Goan team to venture out for an out-station tournament.

In the semi-final Salgaocar beat Mohun Bagan 2-0. Salgaocar made their intentions clear in the very 4th minute. Right center forward Joao Santos intercepted a Mohun Bagan pass, made a solo run of around 25 yards. on the left flank within the opposition''s half and skillfully dribbled past two Mohun Bagan defenders inside the penalty area before passing the ball to advancing Dennis Cabral who netted the ball, past a surprised Mohun Bagan keeper.

Salgaocar fired the final salvo in the 60th minute. Franky Barreto, took a powerful shot at the Bagan goal. Bengal keeper Hemant Dora failed to anticipate and Jules Alberto lurking behind Barreto tapped the ball into the nets to set up Salgaocar''s entry into the final.

In the final they created history beating East Bengal 3-2 in the tie-beaker, after regulation and extra time failed to provide a result. Habib, Rocky and Dharamjit Singh converted, while the Singh brothers, Renedy and Ratan converted one each for East Bengal. The writing on the wall became vivid. Salgaocar Sports Club is the team that Goa has ever produced, in the 20th century. Three days later in the National Super Cup Salgaocar established the unders