TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: Goa’s international footballer Clifford Miranda received 6th Dilip Sardesdai Sports Excellence award for the year 2013-14 from chief guest Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza at a ceremony held on the occasion of National Sports Day at Kala Academy, Panjim, on Thursday.
Clifford was presented a bronze plaque of Dilip Sardesai, a certificate and a cash award of Rs 2 lakh.
“I am very humbled to receive this prestigious award as it is a tribute to Goa’s most famous sportsperson, cricketer Dilip Sardesai. Success comes with hard work and dedication and I followed the same principle. Football is a very short career but an exciting one and is worth the experience,” expressed Clifford, who urged the students present from Don Bosco HS Panjim, Our Lady of Rosary HS Dona Paula and Auxillium HS Caranzalem to take up the sport.
The 31-year-old Dempo midfielder was grateful to his coaches, family, Goa Football Association and Dempo president, Shrinivas Dempo.
Francis D’Souza and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar credited Clifford’s achievements alongwith the contribution made by Dempo to Goan football. They also acknowledged the contributions of Goa’s only test cricketer, Dilip Sardesai.
Wife of late Dilip Sardesai, Prof Nandini Sardesai stressed the need of sports in true personality development. She said “Sports inculcates value’s that will help an individual in future. As Dilip used to say it was the three deeds that are very important- determination, discipline and dedication.”
Meghna Shetgaonkar, deputy director of Sports and Youth affairs; Siddhivinayak Naik, secretary of Kala Academy; Vishwasrao Dempo; Samir Naik, Dempo player and the family members of late Dilip Sardesai were those among present.
V M Prabhudesai, director of Sports and Youth Affairs welcomed. Juliana Gurjao e Colaco, deputy director proposed the vote of thanks. Jennifer Gonsalves compered.
