PANJIM: after a decade, Dempo Sports Club finally got the State champions title back again. India’s most successful club, winning five national titles, grabbed their 16th Goa Professional League crown defeating Sesa Football Academy 2-1, with a game in hand at Duler Stadium, on Sunday.
Goals from Aman Govekar and Klusner Pereira helped Golden Eagles win their first title in a decade.
“I am very happy and proud that Dempo SC has won the Goa Pro League after some years. This is all due to the efforts of our players, support staff and specially our Chief Coach Samir Naik. It’s satisfying that we had six players from our academy in the team this season,” stated Shrinivas Dempo, president of Dempo Sports Club.
Coach Samir Naik was ecstatic with the result and it was visibly seen; and why not? He last won the title in 2011, and came close twice in lifting the title but only to lose it on the final match day to FC Goa in 2019.
For a club, which has been absent from national football, this is a huge feat. The coach now has won the title as a player and a coach at the same club. “Still we are the most successful club in India,” states Samir while speaking to Herald.
“We had our chairman Shrinivas Dempo, the management and the the entire staff and players backing us this season and they gave their best,” stated Samir, who snatched 33 points having a game in hand.
“This is a huge motivation for us. Hopefully we will be playing I-League; then winning the I-league and then ISL in some years, that’s what I always thought and would want to happen,” stated Samir.
Dempo had to snatch a win in their last four games, however, they dropped points in previous two games. Having to play Sporting Clube in the final league match, Samir’s aim was to finish the run in the match against Sesa.
“That’s exactly what I told my team. Not to take it to the last match. We know what happened last time. And I am happy we did it with a game in hand,” said Samir.
Dempo Sports Club scored early in the game from a direct freekick when Klusner Pereira struck a power packed shot which directly crashed in the top corner giving no chance for the rival keeper.
Dempo SC doubled the lead in the 40th minute when Vieri Colaco dispossessed Sesa defender and darted into the area and dribbled past the keeper, and unselfishly played it across to Aman Govekar, who scored to make it 2-0.
Dempo missed plenty of opportunities to inflate but then a 2-0 look enough for Dempo. Sesa FA pulled a goal back in the injury time when Faheez headed in Aman’s cross. Dempo keeper managed to get a hand to it, but the ball hit the post and entered the goal.
In another match, Salgaocar FC beat FC Goa 2-1.
A own goal from Kunal and Samuel’s 82nd minute strike helped Salgaocar score two. FC Goa pulled a goal back through Salgeo.
