Goa Santosh Trophy squad profile

Agnelo Gomes

Club: Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim

Position: Goalkeeper

Age: 28

Place of Birth: Curtorim

Agnelo started his senior career in 2009 with Raia Sporting before moving to Margao Sports Club in 2011. His exploits under the bar earned him a contract with Sporting Clube de Goa in 2012. He also had a stint with Mumbai based ONGC before getting called up to Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim in 2016. 

Melroy Fernandes

Club: Calangute Association

Position: Goalkeeper

Age: 24

Place of Birth: Dramapur

Melroy played for Sporting Clube de Goa for two seasons after he made the move from Churchill Brothers. He joined Calangute Association early this season and made several saves for them in the Goa Pro League. 

Bruno Colaco

Club: Salgaocar FC

Position: Goalkeeper

Age: 25

Place of Birth: Nuvem

After stints with Sesa FA and Margao SC in the Goa Pro League, Bruno made a remarkable debut in the I-League when he kept a clean sheet for Sporting Clube de Goa against Pune FC at Balewadi. It was here that he made his debut for another club, Bengaluru FC, and earned a point for his side. 

Assumption Soares

Club: Dempo SC

Position: Defender

Age: 19

Place of Birth: Cansaulim

A speedy left back Assumption started two matches for Dempo SC in the Goa Pro League. For Sporting Clube de Goa in his debut match for the senior team, he produced a splendid display. He was selected in the Goa Santosh Trophy team; played for Kenkre FC, a Mumbai based club that is currently playing in the Second Division I-League. He is currently playing there on loan from Dempo SC.

Melvin Lobo

Club: Calangute Association

Position: Defender

Age: 24

Place of Birth: Calangute

A no nonsense defender and a tough tackler, Melvin initially plied his trade at United Club of Nerul for two seasons before making the cut at Sesa FA in Sanquelim. He was a member of current I-League side DSK Shivajians, based in Pune and played in the Second Division I-League in 2014-15. He also helped Calangute Association finish among the top five in the Goa Pro League.

Jessel Carneiro

Club: FC Bardez

Position: Defender

Age: 26

Place of Birth: Maina

Jessel has been one of the most promising players at the junior level. He initially started his career with Dempo SC juniors before moving on to the senior team. After some decent performances for Dempo where he broke into the I-League team, Jessel moved to Pune FC and later to FC Bardez. 

Leny Pereira

Club: Salgaocar FC

Position: Defender

Age: 26

Place of Birth: Goa Velha

Leny has been making quite some progress since grabbing attention with his performance for Margao Sports Club. It wasn’t long before that Salgaocar spotted him, and although it took him some time to work his way into the starting eleven, his performance for the Green Brigade was hard to ignore since making his debut for Salgaocar in 2013.

George D’Souza

Club: Sporting Clube de Goa

Position: Defender

Age: 22

Place of Birth: Calangute

George started off at the junior academy of Sesa FA. His exploits on the field earned him a call to the senior academy where he played for two seasons. He then joined Calangute Association. His wonder goal for Calangute against Sporting Clube last season earned him a call up to the Sporting Clube de Goa senior team. George played a handful of games for Sporting in last season’s I-League performing creditably.

Nicolau Colaco

Club: Salgaocar FC

Position: Defender

Age: 32

Place of Birth: Nuvem

The experienced defender was part of the Salgaocar squad that won the I-League in 2011-12 as well as the Federation Cup. He was later picked up by FC Goa, the Goan franchise in the Indian Super League, and although he may have played his best football earlier, the experienced campaigner will have a leading role to play for Goa at the Santosh Trophy. 

Peter Carvalho

Club: FC Bardez

Position: Midfielder

Age: 36

Place of Birth: Quepem

Just when you thought he was past his prime, Peter Carvalho always manages to prove you wrong. Peter has also played a game for the National team against Maldives under Armando Colaco. In the 2012-13 I-League, Peter was the highest scoring midfielder for Dempo. His exploits earned him an Indian Super League call-up for two successive seasons- with FC Goa in the inaugural season and later Kerala Blasters. He has four I-League winners medals to his credit with Dempo Sports Club including a cherished semi-final appearance in the AFC Cup 2008.

Francisco Fernandes

Club: FC Pune City

Position: Midfielder

Age: 31

Place of Birth: Bogmalo

An important player of the Salgaocar squad that won the I-League and Federation Cup under Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa, Francisco was among the players that former India coach Wim Koevermans trusted the most. With boundless energy and a bagful of tricks, Francisco can provide the inspiration for Goa at the Santosh Trophy.

Latesh Mandrekar

Club: FC Bardez

Position: Midfielder

Age: 19

Place of Birth: Saligao

Latesh would like to follow in the illustrious footsteps of his uncle Samir Naik, one of Goa’s most impressive players of all time. A member of the Sesa Football Academy team that won the U-16 GFA League along with Leander D’Cunha, Latesh then moved to Calangute Association. This season he has been one of the best young talents on display donning colours for new entrants FC Bardez.

Brian Mascarenhas

Club: Salgaocar FC

Position: Midfielder

Age: 25

Place of Birth: Nuvem

Brian is one of the exciting young wingers in the team who has had spells with Churchill Brothers and Dempo before settling for the comfort of Salgaocar SC. His most famous strike could possibly be the one scored against Calangute Association from almost 40 yards out. Goa will expect more of the same at the Santosh Trophy.

Leander D’Cunha

Club: Churchill Brothers SC

Position: Midfielder

Age: 19

Place of Birth: Cuncolim

Leander started his career with Sesa FA in 2012 and played there for two seasons winning the GFA U-16 League. He then moved to his village club Cuncolim Union, playing there for a year before moving to Churchill Brothers last season where they finished as Runners-Up in the Goa Professional League. 

Cajetan Fernandes

Club: Sporting Clube de Goa

Position: Midfielder

Age: 28

Place of Birth: Nuvem

Cajetan is usually the first name on every coach’s team list. He has an I-League winner’s medal to his credit having won the 2010-11 I-League trophy with Salgaocar FC under Bencherifa. Many of his critics thought Cajetan went off the boil a couple of years back, however he has managed to reinvent himself at Sporting with some consistent performances over the past three seasons, be it in the Goa Professional League, I-League or Federation Cup.

Glan Martins

Club: Sporting Clube de Goa

Position: Midfielder

Age: 22

Place of Birth: Cansaulim

Glan joined Sporting Clube de Goa in the 2014-15 season after catching the eye of Sporting scouts with some stellar performances for Sesa in the preceding Goa Professional League. He was a regular starter with Sporting Clue de Goa in the 2016-17 I-League season as one of their two U-23 players. His pace and vision enables him to play on the right of midfield too where he has delivered some deadly crosses in the past.

Akeraj Martins

Club: Sporting Clube de Goa

Position: Striker

Age: 19

Place of Birth: Taleigao

Akeraj is a product of the Sporting Clube de Goa academy. He has been a regular for Sporting Clube de Goa this season as one of their two U-20 players. He has the ability to be a poacher in front of goal and can be at the right place at the right time.

Aaren D’Silva

Club: Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim

Position: Striker

Age: 19

Place of Birth: Ponda

Aaren started his career at Sesa FA, spending four years at Sanquelim, before donning colours for Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim this year. His performances for the Cavelossim based side earned him a call up to the Santosh Trophy team. His exploits in front of goal helped Sesa Academy (Jrs) qualify for the GFA First Division.

Marcus Mascarenhas

Club: Sporting Clube de Goa

Position: Striker

Age: 30

Place of Birth: Sao Jose De Areal

Marcus Mascarenhas has been a veteran at the Santosh Trophy having played in many editions so far. He was also a part of Goa’s Santosh Trophy winning team in 2009. Marcus has in the past represented both Goan powerhouses, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa playing in the I-League on several occasions. 

Liston Colaco 

Club: Salgaocar FC

Position: Striker

Age: 18

Place of Birth: Davorlim

Just 18 years of age, Liston has already been the top scorer of the Goa Professional League and has also scored 4 goals in the first phase of the Santosh Trophy this year. Heis deadly at set pieces having scored a brilliant goal in the Goa Professional League against Sporting Clube de Goa.