Full name | Clube de Desportos Vasco da Gama | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Port Towners | ||
Short name | VSC CDVG | ||
Founded | 1 September 1951 | ||
Ground | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | ||
Capacity | 19,000 | ||
Owner | Vasco Sports Club Pvt. Ltd. | ||
Chairman | Nitin Bandekar | ||
League | Goa Professional League | ||
Website | Club website | ||
Clube de Desportos Vasco da Gama [1] (simply known as both Vasco Sports Club, [2] and Vasco SC) [3] [4] [5] is an Indian professional football club based in Vasco da Gama, Goa, part of the same named multi-sports club. [6] [7] Incorporated in 1951, the club is nicknamed "The Port Towners", [8] and competes in the Goa Professional League. [9] [10]
Vasco is the first Goan club run under public shareholding. [11] It previously competed in the National Football League, [12] [13] [14] then highest division of Indian football league system. The club also appeared in the I-League 2nd Division in later years. [15]
In 1951, residents from the port town of Vasco da Gama, Goa, including the Portuguese garrison stationed there, formed the club called Clube de Desportos Vasco da Gama. [16] [17] Tenente Avila became first president of the club. [18] On 1 September of that year, the club earned certification; they became affiliated to the Associação de Futebol de Goa (GFA) in 1959. [18] It was named after the famous Brazilian club Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, and similar colours were adopted by it. [16] The open fields where the present Tilak Maidan Stadium and were the practice grounds for the players. Later a club house was built nearby, which still stands today. [19]
During the last five decades the club participated in most of the major tournaments in India. [20] The sixties and seventies were the most productive years for the club as they won some of the major tournaments during that time (Kerala Trophy, Stafford Cup, Chakola Gold Trophy and Sait-Nagjee Trophy). [21] In 1968, it won the first edition of Goa Police Cup, and in 1969, it became the first Goan side to win Sait Nagjee Football Tournament defeating Border Security Force FC. It failed to win in other tournaments including Rovers Cup, [22] Bordoloi Trophy and Nehru Memorial Tournament, having lost out in the several finals. In 1970, Vasco again became the first Goan side to win prestigious Bandodkar Gold Trophy, defeating Dempo 1–0. [23] During the late-60s and early-70s, Vasco was noted for having famous "A–B–C–D of Indian football", players Andrew D'Souza, Bernard Pereira, Catao Fernandes, and Dominic Pereira. [24] [25] [26] [27] As far as honors at home go, the club won the Goa Professional League title on six occasions starting in 1954 until 1969 and is the oldest registered club still participating in the state's top league competition. [28] [29] Vasco also became first Goan club to have won a tournament in Bombay, the WIFA Championship in 1966. [24]
After two decades of major victories, the 1980s saw a decline in the efficacy of the club in terms of all Indian and state tournaments. However, it retained a prominent position among the top five clubs in Goa. The decline started when Bandekar group withdrew support and there were no new investors to fund the increasing cost of top class players. [30] From 1973 to 1975, Vasco was managed by legendary Indian goalkeeper Peter Thangaraj, [31] [32] and renowned goalkeeper E.N. Sudhir played for the club. [33] Noted Indian manager T. K. Chathunni also appeared with Vasco in the 1970s. [34] [35] [36] The club clinched Stafford Challenge Cup title in 1973. [37] [38] Over the last five decades, the club has received a lot of financial help from many philanthropic individuals not only from Goa, but also Goans residing abroad. [39]
Undaunted, from the mid 1990s, under the leadership of Nõel da Lima Leitão, the club appointed former S.L. Benfica star Zeca Miglietti as coach for its training programme. His hard work saw the Club reach the quarterfinal phase of the KBL Federation Cup and among the contenders for qualification to the Premier Division National League. British coach Bob Bootland took charge of the club in mid-90s and worked until 1998. [40]
For several years, Vasco emerged as one of the strongest sides in Goan football and they are well known for signing some quality foreigners. Signing players form Uzbekistan by them were one of the hot topics as they roped in some players including Yorqin Nazarov, Anvar Jabborov, Ravshan Teshabaev, Azamat Abduraimov, Sherzod Nazarov, Kashimov Awazbek. [41] [42] [43] Vasco has participated in the National Football League II for several times, and in the 1999–00 season they emerged as runners-up. [44] In the 2001–02 NFL season, the club secured third place, in which Vasco striker Rui Wanderley Weis scored 12 goals. [45] [46] In the 2002–03 National Football League, Vasco finished third on league table and they thrashed HAL SC 8–0, making it the biggest ever win for the club on margin. [47] [48] In September 2000, they reached final of Tirur All-India Football Tournament in Tirur, Kerala, but finished as runners-up, losing 5–4 to Indian Bank Recreational Club. [49]
Vasco debuted in the I-League during the 2008–09 season, but finished bottom of the table with 10 points in 22 matches. [50] Vasco last competed in the top flight of domestic football during the 2009–10 season. [51] In the 2010 I-League 2nd Division, Vasco entered into the final round, [52] achieving third place with 13 points from 7 matches. [53] In 2012, Serbian manager Davor Beber was appointed head coach. [54] For the first time in history, Vasco got relegated from Goa Professional League in 2012–13 Goa Professional League season. [55] In August 2018, they roped in former India international Micky Fernandes as their new head coach. [56]
In the 2020–21 season, Goa Football Association held the qualifying tournament through Goa Professional League. After no interest from winners and runners-up, Vasco requested to the state association for nomination for the 2021–22 I-League 2nd Division. [57]
In 2020, Vasco brought a new title sponsor in the local NRB Group, thus the team became known officially as NRB Vasco. [58] [59] The sponsorship was announced in Goan Club House. [60] The team was formerly sponsored by Chowgule Group. [61] The initial deal was of one-year duration which was announced by the NRB managing director Narayan Bandekar, who hope to help the club qualify for the I-League after years in the 2nd Division.
Vasco SC president Nitin Bandekar and vice-president Vinod Parkot with local Vasco MLA and KYC Chairman Carlos Almeida, Vasco SC CEO Ajay Patil, former club president Vinod Parkot, the ex-Goa FA secretary Savio Messias and Nayan Tara Lima Leitao were attended during the press meeting to let everyone about the sponsorship for the betterment of the management of the club. [62]
Vasco S.C. used Tilak Maidan Stadium [63] [64] for their home matches of the National Football League, [65] the I-League 2nd Division and the Goa Professional League. [66] [67] [68] [69] They also use Duler Stadium for some of their home games. [70] [71]
Vasco used to have rivalries with its fellow Goa-based clubs including Dempo S.C. and Churchill Brothers in regional leagues. [72] [73] With another Goan club Salgaocar, they participate in "Vasco derby". [74]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
The following Vasco SC players have been capped at full international level , with their respective countries. Years in brackets indicate their spells at the club. [41]
Foreign internationals
Indian internationals
Vasco has its youth men's teams, which are participating in both regional and nationwide youth tournaments. Club's U-19 team took part in the I-League U19, [138] [139] while U-20 team competes in Taça Goa U-20 Football League. [140] They also operated its U-15 team, which was included in Manchester United Premier Cup of India for 2006–07 season. [141]
Dempo Sports Club is an Indian professional football club based in Panaji, Goa. The club currently competes in the I-League, the second tier of the Indian football league system, and the Goa Professional League. Dempo is owned and sponsored by the Dempo Mining Corporation Limited. Known popularly as "The Whites" and "Golden Eagles", the club has been a constant participant in the National football championships, and gained immense popularity in the last four decades of its existence.
Sporting Clube de Goa is an Indian professional football club based in Panaji, Goa. The club competes in the I-League 2, the third tier of the Indian football league system and the Goa Football League. Nicknamed "The Flaming Orange", the club was founded in 1999 as Cidade de Goa. They previously competed in the I-League, then top-flight of Indian football league system.
Salgaocar Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Vasco, Goa. Being one of the country's most successful clubs, it is currently operating youth teams. Until the disfunction of club's senior team in June 2023, Salgaocar competed in the Goa Professional League.
Churchill Brothers Football Club Goa is an Indian professional football club based in Margao, Goa, that competes in the I-League, alongside Goa Professional League. Founded in 1988 in Margao, the club usually participated in the National Football League, then top tier of Indian football league system.
Tata Football Academy is a football academy based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, sponsored by Tata Steel, which owns ISL outfit Jamshedpur FC. It is one of the renowned and leading football academies in the country.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Sporting Club is an Indian institutional multi-sports club based in Bangalore, known for its association football team. It was named after the company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The club competed in the top tier of Karnataka football — the Bangalore A Division and from 2001, the BDFA Super Division.
Brahmanand Sagoon Kamat Sankhwalkar is an Indian former footballer and a captain of the Indian team from 1983 to 1986, who played as a goalkeeper. Considered one of India's best goalkeepers, he had 25-year playing career. He played for Panvel Sports Club, Salgaocar, Churchill Brothers, Anderson Mariners at the club level, that included 17 years with Salgaocar, and for Goa state team in the Santosh Trophy. Playing for Goa, he led the team to two consecutive wins at the Santosh Trophy; in 1983 and 1984. Having maintained a clean sheet of 576 minutes in the 1984 tournament, he holds the Indian record.
Bruno Coutinho is an Indian former football player. He spent most of his club career in Salgaocar FC. Coutinho is a recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2001, a national Indian award for excellence in sport.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Football Club was an Indian professional football club based in Mumbai. The club was an institutional arm of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), and part of its multi-sports club.
Indian Bank Recreational Club is an Indian professional football club based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The club formerly participated in the National Football League, and the I-League Second Division. They are currently competing in Chennai Football League, under license from Tamil Nadu Football Association (TNFA).
Climax Lourenco Lawrence is a retired Indian professional football midfielder. He last played for FC Bardez in the Goa Professional League in 2017.
Havildar Peter Thangaraj was an Indian football player and a non-commissioned officer in the Indian Army. Thangaraj played for the Indian national side at the 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome Olympics. He was voted Asia's best goalkeeper in 1958. Thangaraj was a recipient of Arjuna Award for the year 1967.
Neville Steven Joseph D'Souza was an Indian footballer who played as a striker. During the "golden era of Indian football" under legendary coach Syed Abdul Rahim, he was recognised one of the finest strikers of India national team having perfect eye for goal. He appeared in the 1956 Summer Olympics, and finished the campaign as joint top scorer of the tournament with four goals, inducing a hat-trick in the quarterfinals against the hosts Australia.
Sesa Football Academy (SFA) is an Indian professional football club based in Sanquelim, Goa. Originally founded in the 1960s as Sesa Sports Club, it currently competes in the Goa Professional League, and had previously participated in the NFL II and the I-League 2nd Division. SFA is a unit of Sesa Community Development Foundation, which is promoted by Vedanta Limited with the objective of service to the community in its operational areas. Sesa is the acronym of Scambi Economici SA Goa, its parent mining company founded in 1954.
Armando Colaço is an Indian football coach, who is currently the head coach of Sporting Goa in the I-League 2. He is the most successful manager in the history of I-League club Dempo, in terms of trophies in the last 20 years and is also the club's longest-serving manager.
Derrick Pereira is an Indian association football manager and former player, who managed then I-League 2nd Division club FC Goa Reserves and the India national under-23 football team. He is also the technical director of Indian Super League club FC Goa.
Shabbir Ali is an Indian football manager and former player. He was awarded the Dhyan Chand Award, the highest award in Indian sports for lifetime achievement, given by Government of India in 2011. He is the first footballer to be named for the Dhyan Chand Award.
The Goa Police Cup is an annual football tournament organized by the Sports Cell of Goa Police. The tournament is played between the top teams of Goa Professional League and GFA First Division League, sometimes joined by invitational teams. Goa Police Cup is one of the oldest tournaments in Goa, starting since 1968. The competition is played in a group stage followed by knockout. Vasco won the inaugural edition. The champions in 2023 edition were Cortalim Villagers.
Roberto Fernandes is a former Indian football player who played as a defender. He appeared in 29 international matches for India national team. Fernandes spent his majority of career by playing for Goan club Salgaocar FC.
The Bandodkar Trophy, currently known as the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy, is an Indian football tournament held in Goa and organized by Goa Football Association. It was also known the Bandodkar Gold Trophy till the 2016 edition, when the tournament was revamped in a new format for the subsequent editions. The tournament was first started in 1970 and to showcase the Goans' capabilities to organise an All-India football tournament.
Bibliography
Other sources
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)