Dempo Sports Club commemorated their Golden Jubilee with the release of a coffee house book called ‘Golden Eagles’ 50 Years of Dempo Sports Club (1967-2017) at Taleigao Community Hall on Tuesday.
Panaji
Speaking on the occasion, Shrinivas Dempo, Chairman, Dempo Sports Club revealed that it was a great moment for the Dempo family.
“My father believed Goa and football can never be separated. Other than the IFA Shield, our club has won every major title in India. It is a privilege that our club reached the AFC semi-final play-offs and have won the I-League a record five times in eight years,” he said.
Stating further, Dempo said that through their recently established football academy they are committed to provide 24 boys every support and hoped one day that some of his boys make it to Jaydev Mody’s FC Goa team.
Post a short screening of the golden years of the club, 50 eminent footballers of the club down the years chosen by a panel of judges were felicitated. Thereon, Pallavi Dempo presented mementos to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and AIFF President Praful Patel.
Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar said that when he was in the Defence Ministry in Delhi, the name of clubs as Dempo was synonymous to football.
While appreciating GFDC for pushing talent at the grassroots level, Parrikar stated that to achieve excellence in sport, the players should not only be caught young but supported even after their playing days are over. For this, he is working on a sports policy, he revealed.
Wilfred D’Souza, General secretary, Dempo Sports Club later proposed the vote of thanks. Other prominent dignitaries present included Ravi Naik, Valanka Alemao, Avertano Furtado, Francis D’Souza, Jaydev Mody, Surendra Furtado, Shivanand Salgaocar, Francisco Sardinha, Pandurang Madkaikar, Digambar Kamat, Mauvin Godinho, Vijai Sardesai, Pramod Sawant, Dharmesh Sharma (chief secretary).
