PANJIM: A year after Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa withdrew from the I-League, the All India Football Federation President Praful Patel urged the Goan clubs to come back into Indian football.
Speaking during the concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Taleigao Community Hall, Taleigao he said; “I would urge Shrinivas (Dempo), Shivanand (Salgaocar) and all others to look at football from a different paradigm. You’ll (Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and others) have done it with lot of commitments and enthusiasm but you’ll also need to tweak the model and try come back to Indian football in much stronger way,” Patel said.
Patel expressed that the real challenge is to marry the interest of the every stakeholders and to make India into a great footballing nation.
“I say this because, I-League is not gone away, it’s not done yet. We want a stronger footballing ecosystem coming into the country. In some stage there will be initial hiccups but I’m sure these all will be solved,” Patel said.
“In next two to three years, a comprehensive roadmap for Indian football with everybody’s commitment and participation will be rolled out,” he revealed.
India’s most successful club –Dempo SC brought down the curtains of their Golden Jubilee celebrations on the occasion of the birth centenary of Vasantrao Dempo on Tuesday.
Praful Patel congratulated the club on their achievement and said; “The DNA of Goa can be only described in one word –Football. And it’s wonderful to be here to celebrate wonderful 50 years journey of one of the most illustrious institutions of Goa –Dempo SC and Shrinivas.”
Dempo SC felicitated 50 great players and also released their book ‘Golden Eagles’ in the presence of CM Manohar Parrikar, AIFF Chief Praful Patel, Dempo SC President Shrinvas Dempo and former great Shrinivas Dempo.
Parrikar congratulated the club and expressed his gratitude towards Dempo SC for taking Goa’s name at National and International level.
Parrikar also expressed his support towards the grassroots programme and urged the parents to continue the grassroots programme for their children and not to leave it midway.
Dempo SC have also set up their football academy wherein Shrinivas Dempo gave his commitment promoting young talent.
“We are starting an academy. We have already chosen 24 boys. We are going to pay fully-funded tuition fee including their school and stay arrangements. I hope these boys are picked up by Jaydev Mody for FC Goa team. Cause that’s their dream to go the FC Goa and then to nationals.” Said Dempo
Since inception in 1967, Dempo Sports Club have won a plethora of honours which includes a record haul of five National Football League and I-League titles. Dempo were also the first Indian club to qualify for the semi-finals of the AFC Cup and take part in the AFC Champions League play-offs.
