PANJIM: Two-time Vedanta Women’s League Champions Panjim Footballers created history in the Goan women’s football as they are the first team from the State to participate in the Indian Women’s League which kicked-off on Sunday.
This is the biggest edition of the league as altogether 12 teams are participating in the tournament while the earlier two editions witnessed six teams.
Panjim Footballers will open their campaign against Hans Women Football Club on Tuesday, at Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana, Punjab.
The other teams in the group are Rising Students Club, Gokulam FC, Football Club Alakhpura, and Central SSB Women’s Team.
Angelo Albuquerque, General Secretary of the Club stated that it was a great honour for the City based club to win the GFA Vedanta-Women’s League for two consecutive seasons and also to be the first club from Goa to get the privilege of participating in the Indian Women’s League. He further stated, “I have fielded the women’s team in the Goa Women’s League at the personal request of ex GFA President Elvis Gomes as teams were hesitant to participate in the league. I am very happy today with my decision as through my club I have given an opportunity to many women players to shine and show their talent in the field of football and I have also taken precautions by insuring my players. I would also like to thank Vedanta for their support towards women’s football. We have a young team and I am sure they will give their best and make every Goan proud.”
Incidentally, the City based club is also playing top flight football in the State —Goa Professional League.
Panjim Footballers was founded in the year 1976 by a group of football enthusiasts from the City namely Caetano Albuquerque, Ulhas Kavlekar, Simon Mascarenhas, Ravi Borkar, Angelo Albuquerque and late Armando Rodrigues.
The team initially used to be regularly seen in the inter-village tournaments. As years past by, the club fielded the team in various GFA tournaments and eventually have progressed and are presently playing in the top league of Goa, that is, the Goa Professional League.
Simon Mascarenhas, President of the Club stated that it was financially very difficult to sustain the team and was grateful to the support extended to the club by Peter Vaz, Director of Models.
Panjim Footballers are taking the National league seriously as they have bolstered the women’s team by signing players from across all the teams which played in the Vedanta Women’s League. Having just retained five players — Karishma Shirvoikar, Linda Colado, Karen Costa, Wendy Dias and Aaroshi Govekar, Panjim signed 13 others from the six teams [Sporting Clube de Goa (4); Albert Developers (2), Churchill Brothers (2), Ambelim SC (2), FC Goa (2) and Goa Velha SC (1). Coached by Anthony Vas and managed by Manjita Mathkar, the team will heavily bank on the services of star striker Karishma Shirvoikar who have emerged leading goal scorer for the team in the past two seasons netting in 26 goals for the club in last two seasons (12 and 14 in
each seasons). In midfield, Panim’s strength is Ansiva Vaz, Namita Govekar, Susmita Jadhav and Cia Almeida. Linda and Scindia will be the main pillar in the heart of defence.
Mathkar said,” We have a group of young dedicated and hardworking players who will definitely perform well. The coach has worked very well to bring them to this level there is a good coordination between them as well as good cooperation. My message to the girls is think positive, believe in yourself, stay focused and success will be all yours.”
Linda Colado will captain the team while Ansiva Vaz will be her deputy.
Linda Colado stated, “We have faith in each other. We have practiced really hard to achieve this. Now is the time to prove to all who we are in Indian football. The strength of the team is each individual member and the strength of each member is the team.”
Ansiva Vaz added,” As a new club, I have a key role to play and achieve the goals I dreamt for myself and for the club. Although this is a totally new experience for us, we will give our best and ensure that we are amongst the best in the country. We don’t stop when we are tired, we stop when we are done.”
The Group fixtures wouldn’t be easy for Panjim Footballers given the fact they have been drawn against defending champions Rising Student’s Club and other big names in Women’s football which features Indian National players. Though the team is all set to play their maiden league campaign, it will be a different and all new experience for the Goan lasses.
