25 years later...

Saturday, 13. June 2009 - Lector Mascarenhas (GW)

What's special about 15th of April? It's a historical day in Goan football. On that day, in 1984 at Madras (now Chennai), Goa won the Santosh Trophy outright for the very first time.

Yes, it was twenty five years ago when Goa won the championship beating Punjab 1-0 without conceding a single goal. On the 14th of June 2009, Goa is once again playing the Santosh Trophy finals at the same venue where they created history.

I can still remember that golden moment when Herbert San, the star Dempo midfielder and a native of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, lifted the ball and volleyed a perfect cross from the right flank to the top of the D, from where, the ever quick Camilo Gonsalves, timely headed it to bulge the net. On the 15th of April,2009, I was on my way to Panaji to attend the monthly executive meeting at the Goa FA. My mobile phone gave two beeps to indicate that there is a message for me. Remember, Arnold Rodrigues? It was his message from England to remind me that we have completed 25 years on that day. And of course, he didn't forget to remind me that he was declared the player of the tournament. Coming home, the first thing I did was to quickly pick up the register which had the newspaper cuttings with the photo of the victorious team. Yes, they were all there: Brahmanand Shankwalkar, Chandrakant Naik, Mahesh Lotlikar, David D'Souza, Anthony Rebello, Derrick Pereira, Hercules Gomes, Damoddar Kerkar, Mauricio Afonso, Arnold Rodrigues, Herbert San, Jaime Barreto, Elvis Mendes, Frances D'Souza, Camilo Gonsalves, Dionizio Trinidade, Jose Fernandes, Ignatius Dias and me (Lector). And well, how can anyone forget the Coach, Mr. T. Shanmugam! On the coaching front, I don't think anyone can better his record with what he has achieved with Goa and Salgaocar SC. He won the Santosh not once but twice. Under his guidance, Goa was declared joint winners with West Bengal at Calcutta in 1983 after both teams failed to score even after playing thirty minutes after regulation time. I am told that he is alive and kicking but is losing his memory. We must acknowledge his contribution when he is alive and offer our prayers to God to keep him healthy.

I was prompted to write this after witnessing the semifinals played between Goa and Tamil Nadu at the same Venue at Chennai, nay Madras for us. Goa will be playing the finals against our fierce rival West Bengal on the 14th of June 2009. Will our boys deliver? They may or they may not but I must congratulate them anyway. This is not a strong Goa side but despite several players opting out, they have managed to reach the finals. It really surprises me that today some of our players rush to GFA with the request not to consider them for selections to represent Goa. It's not only the Goa players but in all other states too, star players who have played the I-League have given the Santosh Trophy a miss. In the I-League, the prize money and good facilities at the venues hosting the I-Leagues matches, makes it prestigious. But when it comes to the inter-state championship like the Santosh Trophy, all is forgotten. The less we talk, about the infrastructure and facilities at this championship, the better it is. At this level, can you imagine any dressing room without chairs for the players! Well, it happens only in India. And therefore, players having got used to better facilities in the I-League, opt out. We are now talking about professionalism in Football. As a professional league, the I-League has a certain standard and we must not lower the bar by playing the Santosh Trophy in places where there is poor infrastructure and facilities for the players. The Santosh Trophy must have its place of pride and should not be played as just another tournament. For all the past players of my generation and before, the Santosh Trophy was the ultimate. I would like to compare the I-League and Santosh Trophy to the English Premier League and the European Championships. We see the English players playing the very tough EPL and in between without must fuss play for the country with great pride in the Euro Championship. Something like this should happen in India. The Santosh Trophy (for states) like the Euro Championship must be played once in two years so that the qualifying rounds are held over the period of two years. I hope the AIFF takes corrective measures to make the inter-state championship more competitive. Increase in prize money and change in format should do the trick.

The Goa Football Association is in its Golden Year celebrations. The GFA had completed twenty five years when Goa won the Santosh Trophy outright for the first time. Opportunity seldom knocks twice! Victory tomorrow for Goa in the Santosh Trophy will be history repeating itself in its Golden Year. Viva Goa.