PANJIM: Arjuna Awardee Brahmanand Sankhwalkar was at a loss for words to describe Salgaocar’s withdrawal from the Goa Professional League.
“Unexpected, shocking, unimaginable. I don’t know the exact reason for the withdrawal. The club served as a very big platform for players to make a mark at the higher level, to rise at the national club league as well as the national team. I rose because of the club. I owe a debt to Salgaocar. The first shock was given when Salgaocar withdrew from the I-League. But this is the worst one. At this moment, the only consolation is that Salgaocar will field teams in Under-13 and Under-15,” expressed Brahmanand.
Arpora Sporting’s Babli Mandrekar, Deputy Chairman, GFA’s Competition Committee (North Goa) said the decision of Salgaocar to withdraw from the GPL was very unfortunate and shocking as the team was synonymous with Goan football, having won many trophies at national and all-India levels and kept Goa’s flag flying high.
Babli said that stalwarts like Brahmanand, Bruno, Roy, Dereck, Savio Medeira, Franky Barreto, Sarto Baptista, Norbert Gonsalves, Lawrence Gomes, Alvito D’Cunha, Hercules Gomes, Joaquim Goes, Menino Figueredo, Candido Abreu and several others owe their tall stature to the team. “Salgaocar provided them the much-needed platform.”
“I talked to Shivanand Salgaocar and requested him to reconsider the decision. One cannot forget the derby of Goan football involving Salgaocar and Dempo which was eagerly awaited and attracted several thousands of spectators every year,” he added.
Former GFA Executive Committee member Arnaldo Costa of Curtorim while expressing shock at Salgaocar’s withdrawal from GPL, reminded that it was sheer love for football that had made late Vasudev M Salgaocar to set up Salgaocar SC as Vimson in 1955. He was a great enthusiast of football and took special interest in football. And, this tradition was kept up by his sons Shivanand and Dattaraj.”
