Dempo aim to raise the bar
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
MAPUSA, JULY 21
Dempo head coach-cum-general secretary, Armando Colaco is delighted to see many of his stars representing the State and the country. He has planned for every contingency and will field a separate team for the local and I-leagues. They plan to focus on their youth in the local league. “My first goal is to save my team from relegation and then progress.” stated Armando.
Armando also plans on having a successful AFC Cup campaign and possibly even winning it, but admits that Dempo are still at a learning stage. “This year Italy’s Fabio Cannarvaro will be playing for Al-Ahali Dubai; it would be great to see him play in the AFC Cup,” pointed out Armando.
This year too, Armando will be the club’s chief executive, with assistant coach being Maurico Afonso, manager Custodio Almeida and fitness coach Camilo Gonsalves.
Backroom staff Ashok Arolkar and Mathew D’Costa will ensure that the next crop of young talent will be groomed the Dempo way.
Dempo have already signed the following players:
Subhasish Chowdary (gk), Sameer Naik, Mahesh Gawli (defenders), Climax Lawrence, Anthony Pereira and Clifford Miranda (midfielders) will only return in January from the India set up after the Asian Cup.
Tyson Caiado, Laxmikant Kattimani (gk), John Dias, Covan Lawrence (defenders), Godwin Franco, Peter Carvalho, Nicolau Borges (midfielders), Joaquim Abranches, Clifton Gonsalves (forwards) are currently with the Goa Santosh Trophy camp and will be available for the start of the season.
Luis Barretto (gk), Debrata Roy, Jessel Carneiro, Shallum Pires, Valerino Rebello (defenders), Dominic Noronha, Micky Fernandes, Aaron Fernandes, Aikan Dias and Johnny D’Cruz (midfielders), Myron Fernandes, Terence Fernandes and Roy Colaco (forwards).
Foreigners who are expected back next month are Ranty Martins and Roberto Mendes Da Silva. Ogba Kalu will be the new recruit.
