DEMPO RELEASE WEBSITE, MERCHANDISE & PLAN ACADEMY WITH DANISH CLUB!

SPORTS GOA: Goan Sports fans favourite!

Striker Myron Manuel Fernandes of Mapusa and midfielder Aniston Jenslie Fernandes of Betalbatim were the two young Dempo sports club players selected for a three month elite training camp in Dennmark starting in February, as part of Dempo’s unique youth player development programme in collaboration with FC Midtyjlland.
The announcement was made on Saturday at a press conference at Dempo house, in Panjim along with the release of the new interactive Dempo club website and official merchandise, released at the hands of club president and Goa Football association president Shrinivas V. Dempo. Dempo also expressed the plans for a Dempo academy in Goa within eighteen months.
While the audience was serenaded by the new Dempo anthem which was created recently by a die-hard Dempo fan Anthony Nunes, the website http://www.demposportsclub.com/ was presented. A member from Rubiq solutions who designed and are hosting the website, described the main functions, which included all upcoming fixtures, video highlights of press conferences and a Fan zone to bring the community closer to the game. Dempo also added that they are aiming to have minute by minute score updates of Dempo games as part of the websites dynamic and informative characteristics.
In regards to merchandise Dempo acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in terms of earning revenue from merchandise in India, but believed now was the right time for the club to branch out in this field as another way of reaching out to the fans. A t-shirt with the Dempo Eagle crest was unveiled along with the usual extras such as coffee mugs, keyrings and wristband’s, all in the traditional blue and white of the club.
The chief guest Claus Steinlein, the head of the Danish academy who specialises in unearthing players, spoke of his elaborate plans for improving Indian football. Claus admitted that before the tie up with Dempo he did not know much about football in India, but after visiting Goa last year he was hugely surprised by the football on show.
Claus stated that football has a long way to go in India due to the popularity of cricket, but felt the future was bright and rather humorously remarked that he can envisage the day when Dennmark will play India at the 2022 world cup, but of course felt Dennmark would win. Claus had one parting message, “Unlike Goa, Dennmark is extremely cold, so Myron and Aniston should pack a lot of extra clothing as they get set to embark on their training,” reasoned Claus.
Myron Fernandes is a former student of St Britto’s high school, Mapusa and has played for Goa United and Benny XI, before joining Dempo’s age group teams. He has twice travelled to the UK for training, once with Leicester city through the Gary Lineker scholarship and also with the Manchester United soccer schools. In 2008 he visited Portugal touring with the Goa U-15 team.
This is Aniston’s first trip out of the country and he is looking forward to it. He represented St Jude’s high school, Betalbatim and played for Ave Maria Athletic & walker club U-14 team, before joining Dempo Juniors.
Standing in for coach Armando Colaco who was prevented from attending due to medical advice, Dempo assistant coach Mauricio Afonso spoke of the fantastic facilities he got to view first hand on his trip to Dennmark last year, “There was specific training for players and there were even individual coaches, something that we would like to bring to Dempo eventually,” said Mauricio.
Dempo mentioned that the club are planning to build an academy within eighteen months, but felt it was too early at this stage to say where it would be, “we have a couple of places that we own where it could be set up, but Claus preferred a different site that we had visited and we are in the process of seeing if we can acquire the land,” stated Dempo. Dempo added that they would try to accommodate a roof in the design in order for it to be utilised during the monsoons.
Present on the occasion was Satyajeet Sadanandan, president of new world consulting India, the firm which brought Dempo and FC Midtyjlland together. Gfa general secretary Alberto Colaco, along with executive members Savio Messias, Alirio Lobo and Uday Lingudkar were present. The entire Dempo squad along with manager Custodio Almeida and goalkeeping coach Camilio Gonsalves were also present.

FIRST PUBLISHED IN HERALD ON SUNDAY 29TH JANUARY 2012.

SOUTH KOREANS WIN IN GOA!

SPORTS GOA: Goan Sports fans favourite!

Hong San Won, won the match for Hallelujah football club after scoring the decisive penalty to edge out Archbishop Goa XI 6-7 via the tie breaker in an International football exhibition match at Duler stadium, here on Thursday.
In the friendliest of matches, Hallelujah defender An Dong Eun received the only yellow card of the match for his push on the back of Archbishop’s Milagres Gonsalves. The after dance by the visting team got the biggest applause of the afternoon.
“The Goa team played much better in this game and we missed many chances to score, although the atmosphere was not the same as the flood lit match. You also have to give a lot of credit to the Salgaocar boy’s who played just 24 hours earlier in the Goa Pro League,” reasoned Arhcbishop Goa XI manager Lawrence Gomes.
In the eight minute, Hallelujah clearly showed their intentions, when Park sang Hyun rifled a stinging drive against the post.
Three minutes later, danger man Hallelujah’s Jung Jae Yoon hit the outside of the post after receiving a pass from Park Han Woong. 
On the half hour mark Hallelujah’s Yoon Dong Hyun had his goal rightly ruled offside by the referee’s assistant.
Archbishop’s best attempt came when captain Fr. Valentine Alvares crossed and Milagres wonderfully dummied, but Valzinho shot over the cross bar.
In the second session, both team’s made four changes each, mainly looking to increase their scoring options.
Within ten minutes, Archbishop’s Gabriel Fernandes saw his wonderful strike from outside the box tipped over the cross bar, by the rival goalkeeper. Five minutes later, Milagres headed the ball into the back of the net, from a Valzinho free kick, but the referee disallowed the goal as there was an infringement with Hallelujah custodian.
In the remaining part of the half hallelujah steamed forward on numerous occasions, with the threat coming mainly from substitute defender Kim Hyun Gee, but the Goa defence stood firm and so it would be penalties which would decide the fate of this tie.
The successful penalty takers for Hallelujah were Jung Jae Yoon, Oh Gi Jae, Kim Dong Hyo, Kim Hyun Gee, Shin Hyun kuk, Ju Myeong Gyo and Hong San won.
Valzinho Fernandes, Basileo Rego, Wellington Fernandes, Fulgencio Cardozo, and Perryson Rebello converted for Archbishop Goa XI, while Rosario Mendes saw his attempt come back of the cross bar.
Gfa south vice president Elvis Gomes was the chief guest and gave away the winner’s trophy. Gfa north vice president Lavinio Rebello along with Gfa Bardez members Alirio Lobo, Uday Lingudkar and Babli Mandrekar were present. Jesus Ribeiro splendidly compeered the event and thanked Kennedy D’Silva for organizing the event. 
Milagres Gonsalves was awarded the best forward prize, Keenan Almeida received the best defender award and Macklas Moraes won the best goalkeeper award, all from Archbishop Goa XI.
Kim Jun Sung of Hallelujah was awarded the best defender of his team and striker Jung Jae Yoon was adjudged the man of the match.

FIRST PUBLISHED IN HERALD ON 27TH JANUARY 2012.

SOUTH KOREAN TEAM PLAY IN GOA!

SPORTS GOA: Goan Sports fans favourite!

The re-match is set to be even more exciting, as Archbishop Goa XI look to avenge Sunday’s 1-2 loss to visiting classy South Korean outfit Hallelujah Football club when they do battle at Duler stadium, Mapusa on Thursday at 4pm.
In the last encounter Goa took a shock fifth minute lead through Salgaocar’s Milagres Gonsalves 30 yard strike, but then lost out after Park Han Woonk and Kim Junsung settled the tie in the visitors favour.
“The atmosphere was amazing, and this did the players a world of good. The crowd really made a difference and we are extremely grateful for their support,” remarked Archbishop Goa XI coach Mathew D’Costa. He believed that this game was also a good experience for the players to move out of their usual comfort zones and excel. 
The Dempo academy coach stated that the fans can expect another great performance from the young Goa team. “We knew our opponents would be technically superior, so we just had to go out and work to our strengths, the boy’s put maximum effort and you can expect more of the same in the re-match,” reasoned Mathew.
Gfa North vice president Lavinio Rebello is looking extremely forward to the game as it will not only be an opportunity for the local crowd to witness a foreign team, but it could also very well be the last match played on grass at the Duler stadium, before the astro-turf is laid.
“It is an excellent opportunity for the Bardez fans to witness an overseas XI and it being a charity game we are expecting a full house,” said Lavinio.  Tickets would be priced from Rs.50 to make it more affordable. The money raised will go to the Saligao Seminary.

FIRST PUBLISHED IN HERALD ON 26th JANUARY 2012.

GOA-L CUP IVth EDITION

SPORTS GOA: Goan Sports fans favourite!

Mapusa boys defeated Saligao boys 3-2 via the tie breaker in the IVth edition of the GOA-L cup organized by the Goa Learning Soccer School at Saraswat ground, Mapusa recently. Eight teams participated in the league cum knock out tournament.

Kapil Gawade, Keegan D'sa, Vibanshu Mandrekar, Manthan Vengurlekar and Siddharaj Pilankar made up the winning team. Pruthvesh Pednekar was voted the player of the tournament and Anshul Lanjekar was adjuged the most improved player.

The competition brought an end to the 21 day football camp organized by the Goa Learning Soccer School (GOA-L), in Mapusa and Saligao. Fourty four participants aged between 10 and 14 took part in the three week programme which focused on teaching the fundamentals of football in a fun environment. 

REMO VISITS YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP

 

SPORTS GOA: Goan Sports fans favourite!

Goa's famous musician REMO FERNANDES, gave a few words of encouragement and posed for a photo with the pupil's of The GOA Learning Soccer School (GOA-L), at Saligao church recently.

The players were excited to meet  him as they had grown up listening to his music and were even more thrilled after getting to shake hands with the Goan music legend.