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CAETANINHO SOUZA : Caetaninho, who had a good build and a
great enthusiasm for the game, was one of the standout performers for Vasco
Sports Club. He played a forceful game and imparted strength to Vasco’s
attack. Indeed he was one of the key members of the side when Vasco started to
dominate the football scene in Goa. Caetaninho represented Goa in the 1965
National at Guwahati. He has the interests of Vasco Sports Club at heart.
CATAO FERNANDES : The outstanding left winger, who was a
powerful shooter, joined Vasco in 1964, after having played for the famous
Bombay side, Caltex. Vasco became the first Goa team to win a major tournament
in Bombay, when Catao scored a brace against Tata Sports Club in the final of
the 1966 Western India Football Association trophy tournament at the Cooperage.
He also scored a brace in the semi-final against Mahindras. Catao combined
admirably with Andrew and with able support from the speedy right winger,
Raphael, Vasco’s attack proved to be a real menace to the opponents. Catao
captained Goa in the 1967 National held in Orissa andhe scored Vasco’s match
winner in the 1971 Bandodkar final. Catao played in the Nationals from 1966 to
1970.
 
JOSEPH RAPHAEL : This hard working, speedy and dashing
forward from Kerala gave a dazzling display for Vasco Sports Club on the right
flank. He played for Salgaocar from 1968 to 1971 and was one of its standout
performers during this period. Salgaocar won the Nagpur Rovers Cup, defeating
Punjab Police, in the final and finished runners-up in the Sree Narayan Guru
trophy tournament at Cannanore. He also excelled for Salgaocar in the 1970
Bandodkar Gold Trophy tournament. Twice he was selected as a stand-bye for the
Indian team but did not have the luck to don the India colours. Raphael assisted
Goa in the Nationals on eight occasions. He made his first appearance for Goa in
the 1966 National at Calicut, after assisting Kerala in 1965. His last National
was at Ernakulam in 1973.
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DOMNIC SOARES : This indomitable left winger from
Saligao made a name for himself when he played for Academica. He was an
excellent ball player and was too good at dribbling, weaving his way past a host
of rival defenders and his tailor-made passes fetched a number of goals for
Vasco. The Taj Club from Iran, won the DCM tournament at Delhi in 1972 in a real
champion style but it had to concede two goals to Vasco in the quarter-final.
Incidentally, these were the only two goals that the Taj Club conceded in this
tournament and both the goals were netted by Domnic. Vasco went down fighting to
the Iranians.
The Vasa Izo Club from Hungary, which
visited the country in 1983 played a series of exhibition matches in India, and
it suffered a lone defeat against Goa XI at Panjim. Domnic thrilled the
spectators with his wonderful dribbling and Goa’s match winner was scored by
Prakash Naik off a beautiful pass from Domnic. All that Prakash had to do was
just tap the ball in. After striking a superb combination with Andrew, Catao and
Bernard, Domnic combined very effectively with Raphael and Jose, to earn a
number of victories for Vasco.
Domnic had a short stint with Dempo and
his successful career ended with Vasco. It was his misfortune that he never got
an opportunity to don the India colours. Domnic was the captain of the Goa team
that participated in the 1975 National at Kozhikode. He could score from a
difficult angle and convert penalty kicks effortlessly.
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BERNARD PEREIRA : No Goan forward could match Bernard for
sheer speed and horse-like stamina when he was at the peak of his form. Bernard
who hails from Aldona, was a tall and well-built striker. He gave a harrowing
time to the rival defenders with sheer speed and indeed, he was very dangerous,
as he used to take a sudden shot on the run.
He was a powerful shooter and had scored
a gem of a goal for Goa against Bengal in the first leg semifinal of the 1972
National at Dr Rajendra Prasad Stadium in Margao. The two sides shared four
goals in a thrilling match. Bernard scored a number of classic goals for Vasco
in the local competitions and also in major tournaments of the country. He first
donned the India colours in 1972 and rendered his services for Orkay Mills,
Bombay, from 1974. He is the first footballer to receive the Bakshi Bahaddar
Jivdabai Kerkar award given by the State Government. The late Mr Dayanand
Bandodkar was a great admirer of Bernard.
JOSE FERNANDES : This tiny forward had the skill and
tenacity to get past robust defenders. After coming into the limelight with
Panvel, Jose made a fine showing for Vasco and ended his career with Dempo. Jose
scored Dempo’s match-winner against East Bengal in the semi-final of the 1986
Rovers Cup tournament, which it won beating Mohun Bagan through a brace by
Baptista Fernandes. Vasco’s attack was at its best when Jose played in the
front line with Domnic and Raphael. Jose also combined well with Camilo and
Dionisio, when he assisted Dempo. He also played for Goa and led the side at
Thrissoor. Altogether, he went for the Nationals eight times, making his debut
at Ernakulam in 1973.
PRAKASH NAIK : The talented forward was a member of
Vasco Sports Club when it won the Bandodkar Gold Trophy in 1975. He developed
into a fine forward under the guidance of Peter Thangaraj. He scored Sesa Goa’s
match-winner against Salgaocar in the replayed final of the 1978 Bandodkar Gold
trophy tournament at Margao. Prakash also achieved the distinction of netting
Dempo’s match-winner in the final of the 1982 Bardoloi Shield tournament
against Mohammedan Sporting. He scored Goa’s match winner in an exhibition
match against Vasa Izo from Hungary. Prakash made his debut in the National at
Srinagar in 1978 when Goa reached the final for the first time, He represented
India in the Kings Cup tournament at Bangkok and on the Zambian tour in 1977
when he was with Sesa Goa.
SEBASTIAN CUNHA : The late Sebastian Cunha, had
distinguished himself as an outstanding forward while playing for Vasco Sports
Club.
He had the knack of scoring in vital
matches and Vasco gained a lot from his services. Vasco hammered Salgaocar, 4-0,
in the semi-final of the 1973 Police Cup tournament and all the goals were
scored by Cunha. He scored for Vasco on several occasions in the KFA Shield and
the Chakola Gold trophy tournament, which it won in 1973-74.
He also performed well in the Bardoloi
Shield tournament. Cunha joined Tata Sports Club in 1975 and worked out a good
combination with Shabbir Ali. Tata won the Bandodkar Gold trophy tournament on
debut in 1977, with Cunha giving a pleasing display in the company of veteran
Marto Gracias and Shabbir Ali who was the topscorer in the tournament with nine
goals to his credit.
Aquem Youth Club Margao, has been
conducting a tournament in the memory of this skillful forward, who always
behaved in an exemplary manner on and off the field.
ANAND VERLEKAR : He was an energetic forward who had
speed, dash and good shooting ability. He made a good showing while assisting
Independent Sports Club, Margao and this helped him to don the colours of the
famed outfits, like Vasco and Orkay Mills . He was a hard worker.
FRANCIS RODRIGUES : The speedy Panvel left winger used to
give a tough time even to a seasoned right back like Inacio Piedade. He was a
dashing forward with good shooting ability and was a specialist in taking the
reverse kick. Like Kesalram and Shyam Thapa, Francis was a reliable scorer for
Salgaocar during the 1974-75 season. Salgaocar won its match in the Nizam Gold
Cup tournament against holders RAC 3-1, with Francis scoring the first goal. It
made the final but lost to Tata. Francis also assisted Vasco, Dempo and Sesa Goa.
He represented Goa in the 1974 National at Jalandhar.
ANDREW D'SOUZA : His lean, seemingly frail
structure belied his tremendous potential to explode at the most unexpected
moments and score remarkable goals for his team, Vasco Sports Club, which he
spearheaded during its most eventful years.
Andrew D'Souza, Vasco Sports
Club's centre-forward for 13 long years was the crucial link in the then famous
A-B-C-D combination of Andrew, Bernard, Catao and Domnic. This marauding forward
line sent shivers down an opponent's spine. The lethal combination, the likes of
which Goa is yet to see again, was a treat to watch. "Whenever we took the
field, our opponents always had their hands full in trying to contain us. The
four of us never had to really work out a strategy or struggle to combine. We
could read each other's minds," Andrew commented on the deadly A-B-C-D
combine.
Such was his usefulness to the
team that his mere presence meant half the battle
won.
........read
more about Andrew D'Souza.
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