PANJIM: The prestigious Bandodkar Trophy will restart later this month and will end in April. The tournament will feature 13 teams from Goa elite league and two outstation teams.
No decision has been made as to who these two outstation teams will be. An announcement to this effect is expected sometime later in the week. March 12 is the birth anniversary of Dayanand Bandodkar.
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The competition was started in 1970 and was touted to be the most expensive tournament in those days. Its aim was to showcase Goa on the national stage as a serious football host and boost sports tourism in the State. This was the first major cup tournament hosted by the GFA, which was aided by the then chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar, who being a sports aficionado donated the trophy.
In 1971, Vasco became the first team from Goa to lift the trophy. Till the tournament was discontinued in 1992, Dempo Sports Club and Salgaocar Sports Club dominated the tournament.
Recently, the Goa Football Association has proposed to revive the tournament with 12-14 teams from Goa and around four teams from the neighbouring States of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.
