Team Herald

RAIA: Raia Sporting Club will celebrate their 46th anniversary of the Custodio Memorial football tournament on August 5, on the occasion of the fest of ‘Konsachem fest’ in Raia Village. 

This is one of the oldest football events in the state. The tournament is being conducted in memory of the great footballer of Raia, Custodio D’souza. 

Leo Rodrigues of Colledonngor Raia a member of Raia SC revealed that Young Fernando Menezes, with passion for the game, when he was a student of “Escola Medica de Goa” (presently known as Goa Medical College) started a football club named Clube Autrpelia de Raia. 

Further it was decided to change the name of the club to Raia Sporting Club in 1957. Messrs Peter D’souza, Professor Silvester Fernandes, Pedro Inacio Pinheiro and late Pedro Fernandes got the club registered with the Goa Football Association. The players of the club were sons of the soil and played bare-footed. 

The club gradually rose from 3rd Division to 2nd Division and then to the 1st Div League conducted GFA. 

Players and officials endeavoured to attain glory and name for RAIA. Some of the players who dazzled the crowd at the matches were Francisco Fernandes (Cassic), Peter Fernandes, Pedro  Pinheiro, Alleleluia Gomes, Nicholas Fernandes, Leopold Gauncar, Santan Carwalho, Fernando Costa and the famous brother trio Custodio, Peter and Minino D’souza. Anthony Oliveira is another stalwart of Raia, of present times who took a keen interest in the club as a player and administrator and sacrificed his time to train the youth of Raia. He he a qualified Coach having completed “C” License in Coaching.

The club acquired a Football ground, through the efforts of late Gilbert Barbosa, who convinced that the land belonging to the Comunidade de Raia, be released to Raia Sporting to develop a full size football field. 

Financial support is essential and also the backbone to ensure that the club continues to play in the Professional League.