Churchill defeat 10 men Sporting Goa

Goa Pro League 2015/16

Churchill Brothers Sports Club overcame ten men Sporting Clube de Goa 3-0 in Gfa’s Goa Pro League at Duler stadium, Mapusa on Thursday. Churchill led 2-0 at the breather.

Sporting Goa had to play virtually the whole game with ten men after debutant Issac Negredo was sent off after just two minutes for a foul in the box. From the resulting penalty Kamaldeep Singh put Churchill in front.

Ten minutes later Churchill managed to double their lead when Pankaj Sona curled the ball into the back of the net directly from a corner kick.

Changing over Sporting Goa fought back resiliently and created chances, but could not breach the rival citadel.

In the final ten minutes Churchill sealed victory after the Sporting Goa custodian failed to clear the ball which allowed Seriton Fernandes to walk the ball into an empty net.

PHOTO: Sporting Clube de Goa’s Mauvin Borges sprints down the flank.

Sporting Clube de Goa kick off league campaign

Goa Pro League 2015/16

Sporting Clube de Goa will kick off the 2015/16 campaign when they take on Churchill Brothers Sports Club in Gfa’s Goa Pro League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Thursday. The kick off time is 4pm.

Sporting Goa narrowly lost to Salgaocar by a solitary goal in the Charity Cup match last weekend, although there were plenty of positives the coach took away from the game.

Promising youngsters Ponif Vaz and Ndidi Chukwuma made their debuts against Salgaocar. More new signings are set to follow suit and don the famous Flaming Oranje jersey for the first time in this encounter.

Keeping with tradition, the team offered mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, at Don Bosco in Panjim on Tuesday, which was attended by the players and management, including SCG President Peter Vaz, CEO Victor Fernandes and well wishers. The team Jersey and equipment was blessed.

To commemorate the recent 200th Birth anniversary of Saint John Don Bosco, Sporting Clube de Goa presented a special edition framed jersey to the Don Bosco Principal Rev. Fr. Avin Carvalho, which was personally signed by the entire first team squad.

PHOTO: SCG President Peter Vaz presenting the commemorative jersey to Fr. Avin at Don Bosco, Panjim.

Aslon wins it for Salgaocar

Aslon Oliveira netted the solitary goal as Salgaocar FC defeated Sporting Clube de Goa 1-0 in Gfa’s Charity Cup match at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Saturday. Salgaocar led 1-0 at the interval.

The referee was kept busy dishing out four yellow cards to each team, mostly resulting from late tackles.

Just as it looked like being a baron first half, Salgaocar won a free kick on the edge of the box, which Brian Mascarenhas struck onto the cross bar and Aslon reacted quickest to head into the net.

Midway through the second half Salgaocar introduced their Scottish striker Daryl Duffy who made an immediate impact when he controlled a long ball, but saw his fierce strike saved by the Flaming Oranje custodian.

Sporting Goa had their moments to equalize. Marcus Mascarenhas came closest to restoring parity when he headed a cross from Jovel Martins on to the woodwork.

PHOTO: A Salgaocar and Sporting Clube de Goa player battle for the ball, at Duler.

Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar to lock horns in Charity opener

Goan I-League heavyweights, Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar FC will lock horns in Gfa’s Charity Cup at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Saturday. The kick off time is 3.45pm.

Sporting Goa has bolstered their squad in the summer with talented Goan youngsters and some of them will be on show against Salgaocar.

During the Pre-season, Sporting Goa remained unbeaten with victories over the AIFF Elite Academy, Curtorim Gymkhana, Sporting Clube de Goa U-20 and Vasco Sports Club.

“The GFA charity game is for a good cause and I hope many people turn out to watch the excitement,” stated Sporting Clube de Goa star Odafa Okolie.

Salgaocar put up a splendid performance as they reached the Finals of the Police Cup recently with rising young stars from their Academy.

“It is great to kick off the league with the Charity game. The youngsters will also get another chance to impress,” remarked Salgaocar striker Daryl Duffy.

Both teams will be raring to go and start their season on the right note in what has become known as the traditional curtain raiser for Goan Football.

PHOTO: Salgaocar FC’s Daryl Duffy poses along with Sporting Clube de Goa’s Odafa Okoli.

Marcus nets brace in Sporting Clube de Goa win

Marcus Mascarenhas completed a beautiful brace with goals either side of the lemon break as Sporting Clube de Goa rallied to overcome Calangute Association, in a friendly game at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on Tuesday morning. The match was tied 1-1 at the interval.

With the teams kicking off their pre-season training recently there was some experimentation from both Coaches. Sporting Goa made a number of changes from the team that defeated the AIFF U-19 on Saturday.

It was Calangute who came out the stronger of the two sides and took the game to the Flaming Oranje.

Eight minutes before the break, Calangute won a free kick on the right flank after the ball brushed against the Sporting Goa defender Jovel Martins which prevented a cross. From George D’souza’s in swinging free kick, Yogesh Kadam managed to sneak in at the back post and head Calangute ahead.

After some intricate passing on the stroke of half time, the ball was swept into the path of Marcus who brought Sporting Goa back on level terms with an adroit placement into the net.

You could have forgiven the Flaming Oranje Coach Matheus Costa if he decided to bring on the big guns to go for the kill in the second half, but instead he signalled to the likes of Rowllin Borges, Victorino Fernandes and company to get changed as he wanted to see how the younger players coped under pressure.

Within 108 seconds of the second session, Calangute failed to clear their lines after a Sporting Goa onslaught which led to Marcus lobbing spectacularly over the Calangute custodian to complete his brace which proved to be the match winner.

In the closing stages Marcus was denied a hat-trick after rounding the goalkeeper and shooting, but the Calangute defence read the script and cleared off the goal line.

PHOTO: Sporting Clube de Goa and Calangute in action at Duler Stadium, Mapusa.

Sporting Clube de Goa kick off Pre-season friendly with a win

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY

In their opening game, Sporting Clube de Goa overcame AIFF Elite U-19 Academy 3-1 in a Pres-season Friendly at Benaulim ground, on Saturday morning. The match was goalless at the interval.

Sporting Goa experimented with a new formation which surprised their opponents who were caught tactically unaware.

It was the AIFF who took the lead just after the breather, when Jerry did well to lose his marker and thumped the ball in to the back of the net.

Sporting Goa soon found their rhythm and promptly equalised when Marcus Mascarenhas coolly slotted past the helpless AIFF custodian.

The Flaming Oranje raced into the lead when Rowllin Borges who is about to join the national team camp, curled in a sublime direct free kick from the edge of the box.

In the last ten minutes Sporting Goa brought on Victorino Fernandes and it did not take him long to find the back of the net. A super through ball was played forward by Rowllin which cut through the disciplined AIFF defence and Victorino applied the final touch to cap off a sweet victory.

Munich, Thailand and now Goa for Quan

His football journey has taken him from the quaint village of Majorda to the bustling city of Munich and now Sporting Clube de Goa has decided to promote their midfield magician Quan Gomes to the senior team, on Tuesday at the SCG office, in Panjim.

This September will mark five years since Quan put the St Anthony’s High School in Majorda on the map after he was handpicked by a star-studded selection panel that included former India Captain and Arjuna Awardee Bruno Coutinho and the late great Goan wing wizard Domnic Soares at a talent hunt competition in the state.

The final round where he was selected from thousands as the lone Goan to travel to Germany was held at Don Bosco ground in Panjim. The twenty year-old Quan is happy to have signed a Professional contract for Sporting Goa and excited to be training at Don Bosco.

“This is where I got the opportunity to train abroad and meet future World Cup winners such as Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Meuller, where they presented me with a Bayern Munich signed jersey,” explained Quan.

“After seeing the facilities in Germany it’s easy to see why they are World beaters. The Don Bosco turf reminds me of the pristine pitches I got to play on,” added Quan.

Last season Quan was given his probation period as he represented the Flaming Oranje in the U-19 I-League, which brought many admirers including the SCG President Peter Vaz.

“Quan impressed us with his box to box running and eloquent skills, which includes the Zidane roulette trick. His lack of height is made up for by a good standing jump and his shot from 40 yards also packs a punch,” stated Sporting Goa’s Head of Youth Development Mahesh Lotlikar.

During his formative years Quan has represented Fransa U-14 and Betalbatim Sporting Club U-14 under Coach Eban Mesquita, before joining Salgaocar U-16 where he got an opportunity to play in Thailand after winning the Indian leg of the Manchester United competition.  He also played for Guardian Angel, Curchorem in the GFA 1^st Division.

Quan had previously played under Sporting Goa’s current Head Coach Matheus Costa for Dempo Sports Club U-18 and also in the Goa Pro League for Vasco Sports Club.

“The SCG Academy attempts to scout the best talent in Goa. If by chance these players are picked up by other clubs we are patient and wait for them to become available,” reasoned Matheus.

PHOTO: Sporting Goa’s twinkled-toed assassin Quan Gomes gets into the zone during a closed camp.

Sporting Clube de Goa look to improve Endurance

Sporting Clube de Goa has completed the signing of the 18-year old Nigerian striker Ndidi Chukwuma at the SCG office in Campal, on Saturday.

Ndidi which translates as Endurance in English is the son of SCG official Clifford Chukwuma and the younger brother of Chukwudi who is currently playing his club football in Europe, for FK Teplice in the Czech Republic.

Ndidi has studied and played for the Don Bosco School, in Panjim and is fully acquainted to life in Goa after moving here with his family seven years ago.

“It is great to have you back,” remarked the Don Bosco School Principal Rev Fr. Avin Carvalho. “Ndidi was a hardworking footballer for our School and I am sure he will be successful with Sporting Clube de Goa,” stated Fr. Avin.

By studying at Don Bosco and growing up in a football household has given the well-mannered Ndidi the game intelligence to prosper.

As Ndidi is a foreigner he was not allowed to play in the Goa Football Association age group tournaments, but this has not stifled his progress.

“When my father was coaching Sesa Football Academy, I used to play in some practice matches to get experience,” revealed Ndidi.

Ndidi is a Manchester United supporter and his favourite player is Cristiano Ronaldo. Ndidi was excited in 2012 to travel to Bangalore for training under the Coaches from Old Trafford after impressing in a talent hunt competition.

He has also won the SAG U-16 tournament with his School, after being put through his paces by Don Bosco PE teacher Francis Raposa.

“In Indian football we usually recruit foreign players based on a short trial or a recommendation, but we have seen Ndidi grow up and recognise his potential,” reasoned Sporting Goa’s manager Angelo Albuquerque.

Ndidi is the third footballer from Don Bosco in recent weeks to sign for the Flaming Oranje. Akeraj Martins and Isaac Negredo are the other two.

“The signing of Ndidi is in keeping with the policy of Clube President Peter Vaz to groom young talent and give them the opportunities to show case their skills,” stated SCG CEO Victor Fernandes.

PHOTO: (Left to right) SCG Manager Angelo Albuquerque, Ndidi Chukwuma & Don Bosco School Principal Rev. Fr. Avin Carvalho.