When you enter the stadium for FC Goa’s first semi finals match today against Chennaiyin FC, you
will be welcomed by a ten piece brass band headed by Carlos Gonsalves. But the
fans are even more eager to show their creativity for the game. Many come
dressed, carrying motivating words on their banners and many even decorated
their vehicles.
Damiao Fernandes from Calangute runs a
bike and car rental service business on the coastal belt but once the Indian
Super League begins, everything else takes a back seat. He plans a special
costume for every match which goes beyond football. During Christmas season,
Damiao took on the look of an entire Christmas tree. He has also dressed up as
an English police officer and donned the horns of a Gaur to support the team.
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“I have watched every FC Goa match in Goa in the stadium and I
have been doing it from the time ISL was launched. This year, I have been for
the away matches to Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune and I will be going for the
semi-finals in Chennai as well. I plan my costumes in advance and many people
look forward to what I’ll wear next. Unfortunately, I have been told that I
can’t wear a costume for the semi-finals in Goa. I am still to get a positive
answer before heading for the game,” says Damiao, who is part of the Calangute
Fan Club. Nearly ten cars of fans leave from Calangute for every home match.
Dilip Satardekar travels all the way from Mayem, Bicholim in a
new avatar for every match. He dressed up as Jai Malhar and Milkha Singh more
recently. A school bus driver for the past 17 years, his dedication for his
service, keeps him from travelling for away matches. “I used to play football
earlier and I still keep myself fit through gymming. I have been following the
FC Goa team since the first season and my favourite players are Corominas,
Mandar, Lanzarote and Naveen Kumar. I have bought my own tickets for every
match. Mayem is a place which is bustling with football players and it gives us
more joy to see Goa performing so well,” says Dilip.
However, his biggest joy is his wife, Shilpa who didn’t know
anything about football, is now following the games. “She watches every FC Goa
home match as a game as well as to spot my few seconds on live TV. She also
encourages me to do something different for every game,” says Dilip, who is
always accompanied by his best buddies, Vivek Kudaskar and Manoj Gaonkar. Dilip
is also seen a fan club videos.
Francis
Clark from Macazana is often accompanied by his family when he out for a game.
He has decorated his Maruti 800 with the colours and logos of the FC Goa team.
“Every year I change the design on the car. I own a radium shop and the designs
are easily available on the internet. This year, I drove to Pune with my family
in the car. We wanted to go to Jamshedpur but it was too far to drive. We wish
all the best to the team,” says Francis.
