PANJIM: Sesa Football Academy earned their promotion to the Goa Professional League with a game in hand, thanks to their attacking and composed nature of game plan and not forgetting their players’ dedication and efforts.
In recent times, it doesn’t take much for footballers to be written off by the football fraternity and fans, but it has been proven on many occasions that it is possible for players to rediscover their best form and the same was witnessed when each time Sesa FA stepped on the pitch; the opposition camp was forced to include marking and stopping SFA’s jersey number 10 – Olvin Cardozo in their game plan.
It was nothing complex about the statement or their plans as Olvin was the goal-getter for his team and is presently leading the chart with 14 goals in 10 games for his side including five assists and was influential in getting Sesa FA back to the Pro League.
Olvin is a number 9 who normally plays as a false 9, who can also play inside as a number 10 and who has a great finishing with both the legs.
“I was delighted to be part of SFA this season as this is where I learnt and was groomed. I have improved my performance as compared to my past and this made me hungry to score more goals for Sesa,” expressed Olvin.
Olvin isn’t new to the SFA system as he was part of the academy and graduated in 2014.
There were questions raised when Olvin was recalled by the SFA to be the part of the 1st division team after his unsuccessful stints at Sporting Clube (2014-16; 9 appearances, 0 goals), Calangute Association (2016-17; 4 appearances, 1 goal) and Vasco SC (2017-18, 7 appearances, 2 goals, 3 assists) in the past three seasons and many found it difficult to see why the Academy would want him as the SFA’s model for years has been largely based around producing young and exciting talent made this a strange fit.
However, the move proved to be a masterstroke for both the player and club. Olvin looks like a complete different player under Technical Director Eduard Batlle Basart’s plans than what he was few years back. He scored more goals in one season at Sesa FA (12 goals) than what he managed to do in last four seasons at different professional clubs, with numerous factors contributing to his reinvigoration.
“After seven months working with him I can say that he has understood perfectly our playing style and playing philosophy. He is a very intelligent striker and he has learned to identify where is the free space in each moment of the match and more important, when to use that space,” said Sesa FA Technical Director Eduard Batlle Basart.
“But Olvin has been our top scorer (and league top scorer) not because of his qualities or talent as a player but because of the collective way to understand the game of football of all the team. This is the key of his success: How the team is using him and how he is working for the team,” added Eduard.
Olvin was named man-of-the-match on three occasions and also has two hat-tricks (against Cuncolim Union, four goals and three goals against Curtorim Gymkhana) to his name.
“I wanted to see Sesa in the Goa Pro League and finally we made it. Special thanks to Coach Charles for being my support system and guiding me the path. All thanks to the Sesa management for believing in me and giving me another opportunity to prove my worth,” concluded the 25-year-old lad from Azossim.
