A warning beyond one result
Goa’s early exit from the Santosh Trophy 2025 was more than a disappointing result. It was a warning — one that has been building quietly for years in a State that once set the benchmark for Indian football.
For decades, Goa was the gold standard of the domestic game, producing match-hardened footballers and regularly challenging for national honours. Today, the same State struggles to get past the opening round, forcing uncomfortable questions that go far beyond missed chances or one bad night on the field.
That alarm has now been sounded by one of Goa’s most respected footballing voices. Former India goalkeeper Brahmanand Sankhwalkar believes restrictive player eligibility rules have steadily hollowed out the Santosh Trophy — and with it, Goa’s traditional strength.
A pathway that has narrowed
Brahmanand, who was part of an era when league football strengthened State teams rather than weakening them, argues that barring Indian Super League and I-League players from the Santosh Trophy has robbed young footballers of vital exposure.
“Earlier, league players were encouraged to play the Santosh Trophy. That ensured strong State teams and gave youngsters national-level exposure. Today, even players who have spent only a few minutes in the professional leagues are often barred. That has drastically reduced competitive opportunities.”
— Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, former India goalkeeper
He recalled Goa’s long Santosh Trophy journey since its debut in 1964, warning that the legacy is under threat not due to lack of talent, but because access to meaningful competition has been restricted.
Regulations and erosion
Goa Football Association vice-president Jonathan de Sousa agrees that regulation has altered the landscape. Since restrictions on professional players were enforced, traditional powerhouses such as Goa, Mizoram and Manipur have faded from contention.
“When restrictions were introduced on ISL and I-League players, the Santosh Trophy changed. The tournament has lost its earlier intensity and its value as a true measure of domestic excellence.”
— Jonathan de Sousa, vice-president, GFA
Ten minutes that changed everything
For head coach Keenan Almeida, the collapse remains difficult to explain. Goa dominated possession, created over 10 clear chances and hit the woodwork three times. Yet, in a disastrous 10-minute spell, they conceded four goals.
“It wasn’t a lack of preparation or intent. It was about sharpness in decisive moments, and that comes from deeper structural strength, not just tactics.”
— Keenan Almeida, head coach, Goa Santosh Trophy team
Short-term planning, long-term damage
Former GFA secretary Savio Messias links the decline to last-minute selections and the absence of long-term preparation.
“Earlier, junior teams were prepared a year in advance through structured programmes. Today, selections are rushed and teams dominate play without converting control into results.”
— Savio Messias, former GFA secretary
A generation drifting away
Former GFA secretary Antonio Botelho highlights the steady migration of young Goan footballers abroad.
“With limited financial security at home, parents are discouraging children from pursuing football seriously. That outflow has weakened the foundation.”
— Antonio Botelho, former GFA secretary
Veteran coach Derrick Pereira points to the decline of village football and the absence of a unified development curriculum.
“Players do well locally but struggle when exposed to higher intensity outside the State.”
— Derrick Pereira, veteran coach
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Rebuilding more than a team
Former Goa and Santosh Trophy player Francis D’Souza stresses leadership and finishing as key gaps.
“At this level, there are no second chances. You need strong personalities to coach and academies must focus far more on goal scoring.”
— Francis D’Souza, former Goa and Santosh Trophy player
Former India international Lector Mascarenhas adds that the State league no longer provides the competitive edge required for national tournaments.
The larger truth
Santosh Trophy 2025 was painful, but revealing. Goa did not fail for lack of talent. It failed for lack of a functional system.
Goa once defined Indian football. Whether it can reclaim that identity will depend not on nostalgia, but on sustained commitment — rebuilding patiently, one village, one school and one league at a time.
