PANJIM: After weeks of speculation and rumors, Dempo have formally signed Arthur Papas, Tuesday, to a three-year contract to take over the head coaching position from Armando Colaco whose contract expires on May 31.
The Australia-born Papas, who was shortlisted for the “Coach of the Year” award by the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) had guided the Indian National U-22 team to an impressive and memorable AFC U-22 qualifiers campaign in Oman. He comes to Dempo after having successfully coached Kolkata based side Pailan Arrows.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Highly regarded for his tactical acumen, the 33-year-old Papas will take over from Armando Colaco who is leaving the club after a 13-year career in which he won the I-League for a record five times and also guided the team to the semi-finals of 2008 edition of AFC Cup where Dempo lost to Safa FC of Lebanon.
Arthur Papas said he was incredibly grateful and excited about the opportunity and the challenges that will come with coaching one of the most successful teams in the I-League.
“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I have accepted the opportunity to become the head coach of Dempo for the next three seasons. I am extremely motivated to take on this challenge and playing a major part in what is a new chapter for this great club,” said Papas.
“Dempo have been synonymous with success for a very long time, although right now we are now in the middle of a transition period I will still be looking to provide a team that is very competitive from day one, whilst putting an infrastructure in place which sees us promote & develop more and more talented young players who are desperate to be part of Dempo for the long term.”
Arthur Papas has also served the Australian Institute of Sport, Oakleigh Cannons FC and Newcastle Jets in the Australian ‘A-League’ before joining the Indian U-22 national football team as head coach.
