Herald: Tell us how your journey as a player began and then as a coach?
Anthony: I started playing at a very early age in my hometown, Calangute. From the age of 10, I started playing with the boys of my village. I was playing for my ward Gauravaddo and for my school Little Flower of Jesus High School, Calangute and then for my village, Calangute.
For the inter-ward tournament, I was the highest scorer and was awarded a special prize to buy football shoes and from then onwards I never looked back and played all games wherever there were tournaments, may it be for the ward, school or village level.
As I was a good player, Sesa Goa Sports Club and Salgaocar Sports Club coaches spotted me and asked me to join them. Since I was a school going boy I opted to join Sesa Goa, as the practices were in Mapusa. So every morning I used to go for my practices on my cycle and then come back to school. The same year I got an opportunity to play for the team.
After playing for four years for Sesa Goa, I was picked up by Mahindra and Mahindra, Mumbai. For Mahindra’s, I was their outstanding player. Mahindra’s won the league title and I was the highest scorer as well as the best player of the tournament. That year I also played for Maharashtra and was the highest scorer in the National tournament. I played for the State team several times as a junior as well as a senior player and also represented junior and senior India teams.
I was also the only player to score a hat-trick in the semi-finals and also the highest scorer of the tournament.
I came back to Goa and joined Salgaocar Sports Club. The following year and then after one year I joined back Sesa Goa SC.
For Sesa Goa SC I was a promising player. I captained the team several times and played for them till the team was disbanded.
My career started from 1980 to 1998, till the football team was disbanded. Then Sesa Goa started their own football academy i.e Sesa Football Academy, at Sanquelim, where I was appointed as assistant coach for the junior boys, under the guidance of coach Vishwas Gaonkar.
After completing my coaching licences I was appointed as a coach for the senior Sesa Football Academy, at Sirsaim.
Herald: Which is your best memory till date as a player or coach?
Anthony: As a player for Sesa SC, when I was the captain, we won the Sikkim Gold Cup. For Maharashtra, I was the highest scorer from where I was selected for the India team.
As a coach of the Junior Academy, we won three trophies in one year. Qualifying for the Goa Professional League, winning the Taca Goa under-20, winning the under-18 tournament and also being appointed as coach for the State Santosh Trophy team and National Games.
Herald: How has ISL made an impact in Indian football? Is it good or bad?
Anthony: ISL has made a good impact as far as fans are concerned by advertisement and marketing. To some extent ISL has helped Indian players to mature mentally and psychologically but it would have been better if young foreign talented players were selected for the tournament.
Herald: Now that Sesa’s senior academy has shut down, what is your role and future plans?
Anthony: As I am an employee of Sesa Goa, I will be posted at the Sesa Junior Academy, in Sanquelim to train the youngsters to develop and help them to grow to play for other senior teams.
Herald: How can Goa reclaim its past glory? Most importantly bring back the fans to the stands. What must be done according to you?
Anthony: After ISL, the fans for the other tournaments have reduced. If each club have their own fan base and also youth development from there they can arrange for transport and ask their parents, friends, relatives etc to attend the same. We have to also include more of our Goan talented players in the teams so that there will be more support from the local fans.
Herald: With the U-17 WC fast approaching, do you see any Goan youngster making it in the team? Are there any players from Goa in the residential camp of the AIFF?
Anthony: As AIFF has appointed a foreign coach it will better to have a small tournament for age groups so that he can have a second look in which our Goan talented players can be selected.
