GOALKEEPERS
BENZINHO FERNANDES
Undoubtedly, Benzinho was the outstanding Goan goalkeeper in the early 60s. Stockily built, he performed remarkably for Railways, a First Division side which had an outstanding forward in Socrates Carvalho and a reliable defender in Leao Gonsalves. He stood like a rock in the goal and saved the situation for his side in a masterly manner. Benzinho gave a memorable display for Goa XI against the Karachi Port Trust team from Pakistan that visited Goa in 1959 and kept the goal for Goa when they made their debut in the 1964 Nationals at Madras. Goa went down fighting to Andhra by a solitary goal in the replay, after sharing two goals in the fIrst encounter. Benzinho''s fine display was praised by the press, as he showed his class against a fancied side which contained five internationals. He also played in the Nationals at Guwahati and Hyderabad. The opponents never dared to go anywhere near Benzinho during comer kicks. He kept goal with punch and panache.
Vasco Sports Club won several major tournaments in the country largely due to the superb goalkeeping of Avinder Singh, who assisted the club from 1968 to 1972. Avinder who had the advantage of height and build was a hard nut to crack in goal. He positioned himself perfectly for a save as he had wonderful anticipation and a vice like grip on the ball. One hardly saw Avinder make a diving save. He covered the angles expertly and was very safe against comer kicks. Vasco lifted the Kerala trophy and the Sait Nagjee trophy during the 1968-69 season with Avinder playing a stellar role in its success. He saved a penalty kick taken by BSF captain, Joginder Singh, in the Sait Nagjee final, which Vasco won through a goal scored by Andrew. He also made a fine showing for Goa in the Nationals at Cuttack, Nowgong and Madras. Surprisingly, Avinder, who had played for Junior India, was never selected to assist the Senior India
The well built goalkeeper did a fine job for Vasco Sports Club when he played for them from 1964-1967. Vasco won the First Division League championship in 1965 and 1967, with Vivian performing extremely well behind the bar. Vasco won the Western India Football Association trophy in 1966 conceding a solitary goal and finished as runner-up in the Rovers Cup tournament in
1967. He never panicked under pressure as he had a good temperament. Vivian represented Goa in the 1964 National at Guwahati and in the 1965 Nationals at Quilon, injury prevented him from keeping the goal for Vasco in the semi-final of the 1966 Rovers Cup tournament. He was also unlucky to miss the final.
SUBHASHCHANDRA SINARI
Goa has not seen a goalkeeper as acrobatic as Subhash Sinari, who served Salgaocar in style for quite a long time. He had wonderful reflexes and his diving ability was indeed amazing
considering the fact that he had a massive frame. He was enterprising enough to dive at the feet of onrushing forwards even of the calibre of Inder Singh and Subhash Bhowmick. Sinari, gave a superlative display in the Bandodkar Gold trophy tournament in its inaugural year, 1970. Leaders Club, Jalandhar"
managed to get the, better of Salgaocar by a solitary goal in the
replayed final only through Inder''s genius. Sinari, who hails from Sirsaim, joined Salgaocar after coming into the limelight with Bicholim Football Club. He represented Goa in the Nationals four times (Quilon, Hyderabad, Nowgong and Madras).
PETER COLACO
Popularly known as Pompeu, Peter Colaco rendered good service for Salgaocar. He was a member of the Goa team thai took part in the 1964 National at Madras. He impressed with his performance for Salgaocar in major outstation tournaments such as the DCM and the Stafford Cup. He had a good temperament and a safe pair of hands.
E. N. SUDHIR
Tamn Bose and E. N. Sudhir were the two highly acrobatic goalkeepers one saw in action at the National Football Championship in Goa in 1972. Sudhir had cat-like agility and wonderful reflexes, which helped him guard the goal with supreme confidence. He joined Vasco from Spirited Youth Cannanore, in 1972 and played for India in the Asian Youth Championship the same season. He kept the goal for the senior India side in the 1973 Merdeka tournament. Sethumadhavan of Premier Tyres, Kerala, was the other goalkeeper in the India team. Sudhir had performed exceptionally well in taking Vasco to the Rovers Cup final in 1972, but unfortunately Vasco could not realise its dream of winning the Rovers Cup, as it lost the final to Mohun Bagan for the second time by a solitary goal scored by Kannan. Sudhir <:ffected a couple of spectacular saves in the tie-breaker against Bengal, but Goa lost the double leg semi-final of the 1972 National as it fared badly in the penalty shoot-out. Those who watched Goa''s encounter against Karnataka at Dr Rajendra Prasad Stadium in Margao, will never forget the breathtaking save that Sudhir made off a splendid try by A Ulaganathan. Sudhir joined Mahindras in 1974.
KUPPUSWAMI SAMPATH
Formerly ofMEG (Bangalore), Sampath had played for India on a number of occasions. He donned the Dempo colours from 1973 to 1975. Dempo had the advantage of having the experienced Sampath in the goal in the 1975 Rovers Cup tournament, which it won for the first time by defeating Tata Sports Club in the final, Sampath had a firm grip over the ball and a good sense of positioning. He was simple and modest by nature. Sampath played for Goa in the 1973 National at Ernakulam.
Eustaquio was a promising goalkeeper when he started his career with Academica in 1965-66. Vasco took him as a special replacement for Vivian Furtado when the regular goalkeeper sustained an injury in the quarter-final of the 1966 Rovers Cup tournament. Eustaquio kept the goal for Vasco in the semi-final. Unfortunately, Eustaquio suffered an injury late in the game and was not destined to assist Vasco in the final against Mohun Bagan. Shantilal had also acquired his services for the 1967 Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Kerala tour. Eustaquio served Dempo from 1969 to 1975, after having served GoaPolicein 1968-69. He had played for Dempo Souza during the 1967-68 season. Eustaquio coached the Goa side for the Vittal trophy tournament at Madras and was also the coach of the Goa team that took part in the 1970 National at Kozhikode. Currently he is working as the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.
BASILIO SOARES
St. Inez Sports Club, which had a reliable stopper in Caetano Mascarenhas was also blessed with the presence of Basilio Soares in the goal. Basilio brought off a number of brilliant saves for St. Inez and figured prominently in a number of memorable victories earned by them. The opponents found him a hard nut to crack whenever he was in his element. Basilio inspired his colleagues and the crowd always loved to see him spinning the ball on his fingers after making a save. He was in the Goa team for the National at Cuttack in 1968.
The acrobatic goalkeeper from Candolim joined Vasco Sports Club in 1976. He performed brilliantly in the Sait Nagjee tournament at Calicut and was adjudged the best goalkeeper in that competition. He also won the best goalkeeper''s award in the Chakola Gold trophy tournament at Trichur in 1977. Alexinho came into the limelight with MPT in 1975 wh~n he gave a spectacular display for them in the Bandodkar Gold Trophy tournament, particularly against Leaders Club, which had outstanding forwards like HaIjinder and Kultar Singh. He kept goal for Goa in the final of the 1978 National against Bengal. He was also included in the team for the 1977 Nationals at Calcutta.
EUGENIO CARDOSO
The goalkeeper from Candolim gave a good account of himself while assisting Dempo. He was at the peak of his form during the 1979-86 season. Dempo won the Senior Division League Championship and the Taca Goa, Eugenio being one of the main architects of their success. He conceded just four goals in 25 matches during the season, when Dempo also lifted the Stafford Cup at Bangalore. Eugenio did not concede a single goal in the Stafford Cup tournament. He was safe against the comer kicks and had a good temperament. He represented Goa in the Nationals in 1972 and 1979.
He was an acrobatic goalkeeper and made a number of daring saves. Irineu had the ability to save penalty kicks and had a number of saves to his credit in tie-breakers. He was at his best while assisting Pan vel during the 1975-76 season and was included in the Goa team for the National at Kozhikode in 1975. He also played for Sesa Goa.
The goalkeeper with wonderful reflexes had an opportunity to keep the goal for Salgaocar in the 1982 Rovers Cup tournament as Brahmanand was in the National side for the Asian Games at Delhi. Chandrakant made a spectacular showing, particularly in the semi-final against Mohammedan Sporting. He joined Dempo in 1983 and later played for MRF. He represented India in the Pre-Olympic series and on the West Indies tour in 1983. He also represented India in the Nehru Gold Cup tournament at Calicut in 1987. He represented Goa at the nationals in 1984 at Madras and 1986 at Calcutta. After MRF folded Chandu played for Customs & C~ntral excise before moving to Vasco Sports Club from 1994 until 1998 .
Slim and agile, Nair had rendered good service for Sesa Goa. It was heartening to note that his colleagues had confidence in him and he inspired them with his good showing. He had immense dedication for the game and had also played for Vasco in 1968.
He excelled for Independent Sports Club, Margao, and thereafter performed quite well for Sesa Goa. Pandu, kept his cool under pressure and came up with good saves. He kept the goal for Sesa Goa in the 1971 Sait N agjee tournament at Calicut where they finished runners-up to BSF.
Remedios was in good form when Sesa Goa won the Senior Division League championship in 1972-1973. He was included in the Goa team for the National held in Goa and also found a berth in the squad for the 1974 National at Jalandhar. Sesa relied on him for quite a long time.
CAETANO FERNANDES
Vasco Sports Club had a good goalkeeper in Caetano
when they won the Bandodkar Gold Trophy at the expense of Dempo
in 1975. Caetano had the benefit of being coached by PI Thangaraj. Thereafter, he joined Dempo and
did extremely, in the 1978 Rovers Cup tournament which they won, defeal Orkay Mills in the final.
Caetano was in the Goa team for 1980 National at Cuttack and the 1983 National at Calcutta.
The goalkeeper had the courage to come out of his ch, and foil rival forwards. He had a safe pair of hands and determination to keep his goal intact. The custodian, who
with Dempo for a brief period, joined Central Bank, Bombay did a good job for them. He gave a good showing in the 1 Bandodkar Gold Trophy tournament and played an impor role in taking Central Bank to the final. Central Bank defe: Mohammedan Sporting, 2-1, in the double leg semifinal lost the replayed final to Tata Sports Club. Francis Nunes earned the lead for Central Bank in the replayed final, But Cel Bank lost the services of Teotonio after Tata had secured equaliser through Shabbir Ali. Teotonio sustained a ser head injury when he dived at the feet of the onrushing'' forward Sebastian Cunha. Tata won the match, 4-3.
Barreto was with Margao Cricket Club for two decades. keeping was safe and he was totaly committed to the game performed remarkably for MCC when they had become the Se Division league runners-up under the guidance of Cyril Fe in the early 60s. MCC was the runner-up to Vasco Sports Clt the Goa Police Cup tournament in the inaugural year. It defeated Salgaocar on its way to the final. Fanchu in partie performed superbly for it. He was selected for Goa when Bel from Portugal had visited Goa just before liberation. Fm was the understudy to Benzinho.
GOPI NAIK
Tall and slim Gopi performed impressively for Caranz: Sports Club in the Senior Division league in 1968. Caranz, lost the 1968 Taca Goa final to St. Inez, but Goa Police lifte( Taca Goa in 1969 when they had Gopi as its custodian. He pI; for Dempo-Souza in 1970 and guarded the goal well in
Bandodkar Gold Cup quarter-final against BSF, which his won 1-0. Gopi had a safe pair of hands and a good temperan
The Karwar-born keeper has been with Salgaocar for last three seasons and has been improving with every match. He had a major hand in Salgaocar''s Federation Cup triumph, at Salt Lake grounds, Calcutta, in 1997, though Bruno Coutinho who scored a brace in the finals, hogged the limelight.
Inconsistency, however has been his undoing. He needlessly leaves his charge, which has often turned out to be disastrous for his team. He played his heart out for Goa at the Chennai Nationals in 1999, but, could not prevent the rampaging Bengali strikers in the final in which Goa suffered its worst ever defeat losing to Bengal 0-4.
Siddi has traveled with the Indian team for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup, Kathmandu (1997) and Asian Games, Bangkok (1998).
