The Gaur Army was formed in 2017 with the main motive of building a solid fan
culture. They made headlines as the first and only supporter club to visit away
venues like Jamshedpur and New Delhi for ISL Season 5 and Bhuwaneshwar for the
second edition of the Super Cup, where FC GOA was crowned champions.
A PROFILE OF KEY
MEMBERS
Every fan is important and is considered as a brand ambassador
of the Gaur Army. This is a platform that brings all the fans together to
support and cheer for the club we love the most. The Gaur Band led by Carlos
Gonsalves and Kevin Albuquerque travel with the Gaur Army for every away game
which is indeed a pride to mention. There is an exclusive Women Wing that
promotes equal participation of women in fan culture. They have the most famous
mascot, Gaurdinho, who has been promoting FC Goa right from season 1. The
mascot also travels to away venues.
PLANS OF THE
SUPPORTER CLUB THIS SEASON
There is a close link between the fans and the club. Much before
the inception of the Gaur Army, they created opportunities for fans to travel
for away games during the league away games. Their plans are to back the Gaurs
and follow the team wherever they go. From the senior team and development team
to the grassroots program, they will support the club in all its activities,
ensuring promotion of football in Goa. This year, new chant books, premium
quality wollen mufflers with inscription ‘WE ARE GOA’, t-shirts, caps and away
travel subsidies will be provided to all those associated with the Gaur Army.
PLANS FOR THE FIRST
HOME GAME AGAINST CHENNAI
Plans are in place wherein fan activation sessions are being
organised with full fledged chanting rehearsals; the Gaur Band will come with
new beats to rock the stadium and innovative banners and posters will mark the
fortress to cheer the Gaurs. Apart from this, a mega Fan Rally and Tiffo will
be the highlight of this season. An appeal has been made to the Goa Police to
consider traditional ghumat and fluttering flags with flexible sticks and
permission for chart papers and banners to be allowed inside stadium too.
HIGHLIGHT OF SUNDAY
EVENT
The Sunday event is a fan activation session of this season and
it’s the run down to first home game on October 23, 2019. On Sunday, today, a
Fan centric event with the unveiling of Gaur Army mascot, music, dance,
distribution of exclusive merchandise for seasoned pass holders enrolled under
Gaur Army supporters club, and sponsor announcements will literally set the
ball rolling. Arjuna Awardee Bruno Coutinho will grace the event.
OBJECTIVES OF GAUR
ARMY
It’s simple. To harness their resources to focus on two
important aspects – Fans and Players. They will try their best to ensure that
equal exposure is provided to passionate fans and in the process, create a link
between the players and the fans through interactions. They also aim at helping
the underprivileged children with match day tickets and give away season passes
through various contests and most importantly, help away travel with subsidies
to fans.
We have full faith in our Head Coach Sergio Lobera; he has given
us the most entertaining style of football, which India had never seen before.
With a great combination of local Goan players and retained foreign players, we
are certainly the favourite contenders of Hero ISL 2019. The Gaur Army will
back the Gaurs wherever they play.
SIDHARTH MEHTA, Founding Member – Gaur Army
FC Goa is ‘mog’ to me. I take time out from my academics and
ensure I don’t miss any home game. FC Goa has inspired many youth to join
football as a career. I am impressed with the goalkeeping department of FC Goa,
which has become stronger than ever with young players like Mohammad Nawaz,
Shubham Dhas and Naveen Kumar making the ultimate combination of a strong
custodian line up.
ELVIS POMPEIA, Member, Vaddem-Vasco da Gama, Student
My favourite player is Hugo Boumous and two time Golden Boot
winner Ferran Corominas. FC Goa has a plethora of talents with Coach Lobera
ensuring the best players giving the best results. I strongly believe that the
Cup is coming home and we will leave no stone unturned to back the Gaurs this
season.
XANISHA FERNANDES, Member, Candolim, Singer
I feel FC Goa has an amazing set of technical staff,
conditioning coaches like Virender Singh, Clifford Miranda, medical staff Dr
Nelson and Venky and others who help the team remain fit, which helps FC Goa to
be strong throughout the season scripting success stories.
CLINTON FERNANDES, Member, Vasco da Gama, Photographer
We aim to travel to all away matches and make innovative banners
and chart papers to back FC Goa. With a strong defence line like Mourtada Fall
and Ahmed Jahouh in midfield this season is certainly going to be of FC Goa
lifting ISL Trophy.
KANE BARRETO, Member, Candolim
I travel for over two hours in advance for FC Goa matches with
my son and wife. For us, FC Goa is family and we love our players who make us
proud, like Manvir Singh, Brandon Fernandes and Captain Shandar Amcho Mandar
Rao Dessai.
RAJ KAMAT, Member, Ponda
The FC Goa management has been so supportive for fans; they
don’t just help us during away trips but also renew our faith in the team by
retaining the best players like Corominas and new signings like Len Doungal and
Amey Ranawade.
KAUSHAL PATIL, Member, Canacona, Student
I strongly believe the future is orange. FC Goa have proved
themselves in super cup and now it’s time that the team under Sergio Lobera
will conquer and win the ISL with new Success stories ready to be scripted.
PURNIMA PRABHU, Member, Ponda
Gaur Band has always stood with the Team at home and away games.
This season, we will drum up support with new tunes, traditional ghumat and a
lot of music to cheer FC Goa. We will also have more drummers to ensure that
stadium atmosphere is lit and team gets maximum backing at all matches.
KEVIN ALBUQUERQUE, Member, Mapusa, Drummer
FC Goa players have made the country proud. I love the way
Brandon Fernandes plays; he has proved his skills at every match. He has been a
very great player in creating amazing opportunities for the team. I wish him
good luck as I await an Away jersey from him this season.
ANDREA FERNANDES, Member, Mapusa
My favourite player is Naveen Kumar. He has been a great
strength to our squad. This season, we will create innovative banners for all
players.
ALDRICH DIAS, Member, Candolim
We at the Gaur Army have been backing every segment of FC Goa.
We have begun the new fan culture, which Goans are proud of as this year we
have new chant books and preparing massive Tiffo to support the team we love
the most. We travel for every home and Away game to back our players.
SHASHWAT, Member, Mapusa
FC Goa has given a new style of play under Sergio Lobera. The
team has performed fantastic last season with new records . This year we want
the ISL trophy to come home. We require good referees in ISL as many times its
observed that bad decisions lead to good teams not qualifying.
XAVIER FERNANDES, Member, Candolim
Although I was not following football so closely in the past, when
I saw FC Goa’s style of play I just fell in love with the game. Now I don’t
miss any games and also travel to back the team at away venues.
BEBIANA DIAS, Member, Candolim
I have been backing the FC Goa team since season 1. We have
lived the journey with players in good and bad times, This year, I will be
backing the gaurs with great energy and tremendous amount of support with all
drummers and musicians across the stadium. We are just praying that the Cup
comes home and we all celebrate in style with great enthusiasm. Sergio Lobera’s
style of play has been truly amazing to every fan coming to the fortress.
CARLOS GONSALVES, Member, Mapusa, Drummer
This year we are hoping to take the revenge from our opponents
like BFC and ensure with a good win. With a strong defence and amazing midfield
and good players like Seriton Fernandes, etc the team is going to perform well.
SAVIO MESQUITA, Member, Caranzalem
Last year, I travelled for every home and away game of FC Goa.
This club is like family to me. The love and support from the players, coach
Lobera and most importantly the management towards the fans has built up the
fan culture even more. The Gaur Army makes it feel like the carnival of
football with the band, music, Gaurdinho… it makes me feel so great that
football is like a festival of joy.
AGNELO SOUZA, Member, Candolim
This year with a retained side of most players, I believe we are
a strong team. And we will be the best fans of Hero ISL, drumming up support
for the Gaurs. I have made plans for making posters and banners for most
players, to cheer them at away games.
DEEPTESH DESAI, Member, Cuncolim
FC goa has the best players in the league. We have full
confidence that ISL Trophy is coming to Goa this season.
MARIA BARRETO, Member, Candolim
FC Goa is the most entertaining team of ISL. Their style of
play, creating and setting records is just remarkable. As a diehard passionate
fan, I can certainly say FC Goa is the pulse of every Goan and the Gaur Army is
a true reflection of being the best fans in the country making the club proud.
SHUBHAM PHALDESAI, Member, Quepem
It makes me feel proud of FC Goa as they have every element to
make the fans proud, be it the ability to bounce back from tough times to
moments of a joy during victories. The Gaur Army has stood tall with the first
team and development team, ensuring we boost the players when they need us the
most. As part of the women’s wing, we have encouraged girls and working women
also to come to Fatorda stadium and cheer loudly. We have promoted girls to
ensure that football is not just for the boys but also girls.
SAYONARA FERNANDES, Member, Candolim
We have some incredible players being trained with some of the
finest coaches in India. The club has been backing the development team, which
is very important for the upliftment of footballers in Goa. The training
standards adopted at FC Goa has yielded good results as the development team
has proven at most competitive games.
SHAUNAK PAINGINKAR, Member, Navelim
The Goose bumps, the Mexican wave and the vuvuzela cracking your
eardrums is just the beginning to an electric start to the game. As a fan,
nothing comes close to watching the ball hit the back of the net and millions
celebrating around the world.
Young talent in our state a vision and reinforcing their passion
for football . This will be our year and nothing can stop us!! #alwaysaguar
#forcaGoa #LetsgetthisdoneISL2019/20.
JAISON, Member
No big plans but as usual catch up on some of the classic big
header games at DTR for the EPL and Champions League along with friends. And
most importantly, I will be at the Fatorda stadium for every game of FC Goa.
This year, I plan on taking my son Zarick too for the games.
SEAN FAIA, PR Professional
