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AVINDER SINGH : Vasco Sports Club won several
major tournaments in the country largely due to the superb goalkeeping of
Avinder Singh, who assisted the club from 1968 to 1972. Avinder who had the
advantage of height and build was a hard nut to crack in the goal. He positioned
himself perfectly for a save as he had wonderful anticipation and a vice like
grip on the ball. One hardly saw Avinder make a diving save. He covered the
angles expertly and was very safe against corner kicks. Vasco lifted the Kerala
trophy and the Sait Nagjee trophy during the 1968-69 season with Avinder playing
a stellar role in its success. He saved a penalty kick taken by BSF captain,
Joginder Singh, in the Sait Nagjee final, which Vasco won through a goal scored
by Andrew. He also made a fine showing for Goa in the Nationals at Cuttack,
Nowgong and Madras. Surprisingly, Avinder, who had played for Junior India, was
never selected to assist the Senior India side. He had joined Vasco Sports Club
from Signals.
VIVIAN FURTADO : The well built goalkeeper did a
fine job for Vasco Sports Club when he played for it from 1964-1967. Vasco won
the First Division League championship in 1965 and 1967, with Vivian performing
extremely well behind the bar. Vasco won the Western India Football Association
trophy in 1966 conceding a solitary goal and finished as runner-up in the Rovers
Cup tournament in 1967. He never panicked under pressure as he had a good
temperament. Vivian represented Goa in the 1964 National at Guwahati and in the
1965 Nationals at Quilon, injury prevented him from keeping the goal for Vasco
in the semi-final of the 1966 Rovers Cup tournament. He was also unlucky to miss
the final.
E. N. SUDHIR : Tarun Bose and E. N. Sudhir
were the two highly acrobatic goalkeepers one saw in action at the National
Football Championship in Goa in 1972. Sudhir had cat-like agility and wonderful
reflexes, which helped him to guard the goal with supreme confidence. He joined
Vasco from Spirited Youth Cannanore, in 1972 and played for India in the Asian
Youth Championship the same season. He kept the goal for the senior India side
in the 1973 Merdeka tournament. Sethumadhavan of Premier Tyres, Kerala, was the
other goalkeeper in the India team. Sudhir had performed exceptionally well in
taking Vasco to the Rovers Cup final in 1972, but unfortunately Vasco could not
realise its dream of winning the Rovers Cup, as it lost the final to Mohun Bagan
for the second time by a solitary goal scored by Kannan. Sudhir effected a
couple of spectacular saves in the tie-breaker against Bengal, but Goa lost the
double leg semi-final of the 1972 National as it fared badly in the penalty
shoot-out. Those who watched Goa’s encounter against Karnataka at Dr Rajendra
Prasad Stadium in Margao, will never forget the breathtaking save that Sudhir
made off a splendid try by A Ulaganathan. Sudhir joined Mahindras in 1974.
EUSTAQUIO PEREIRA : Eustaquio was a promising
goalkeeper when he started his career with Academica in 1965-66. Vasco took him
as a special replacement for Vivian Furtado when the regular goalkeeper
sustained an injury in the quarter-final of the 1966 Rovers Cup tournament.
Eustaquio kept the goal for Vasco in the semi-final. Unfortunately, Eustaquio
suffered an injury late in the game and was not destined to assist Vasco in the
final against Mohun Bagan. Shantilal had also acquired his services for the 1967
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Kerala tour. Eustaquio served Dempo from 1969 to
1995, after having served Goa Police in 1968-69. He had played for Dempo Souza
during the 1967-68 season. Eustaquio coached the Goa side for the Vittal trophy
tournament at Madras and was also the coach of the Goa team that took part in
the 1970 National at Kozhikode. Currently he is working as the Deputy Director
of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.
 
ALEXINHO FERNANDES : The acrobatic goalkeeper from
Candolim joined Vasco Sports Club in 1976. He performed brilliantly in the Sait
Nagjee tournament at Calicut and was adjudged the best goalkeeper in this
competition. He also won the best goalkeeper’s award in the Chakola Gold
trophy tournament at Trichur in 1977. Alexinho came into the limelight with MPT
in 1975 when he gave a spectacular display for it in the Bandodkar Gold Trophy
tournament, particularly against Leaders Club, which had outstanding forwards
like Harjinder and Kultar Singh. He kept the goal for Goa in the final of the
1978 National against Bengal. He was also included in the team for the 1977
Nationals at Calcutta.
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CHANDRAKANT NAIK : The goalkeeper with wonderful
reflexes had an opportunity to keep the goal for Salgaocar in the 1982 Rovers
Cup tournament as Brahmanand was in the National side for the Asian Games at
Delhi. Chandrakant made a spectacular showing, particularly in the semi-final
against Mohammedan Sporting. He joined Dempo in 1983 and later played for MRF.
He represented India in the Pre-Olympic series and on the West Indies tour in
1983. He also represented India in the Nehru Gold Cup tournament at Calicut in
1987. He represented Goa at the nationals in 1984 at Madras and 1986 at
Calcutta. Chandu kept goal for Vasco from 1994 until 1998.
VIJAYKUMAR NAIR : Slim and agile, Nair had
rendered good service for Sesa Goa. It was heartening to note that his
colleagues had confidence in him and he inspired them with his good showing. He
had immense dedication for the game and had also played for Vasco in 1968.
CAETANO FERNANDES : Vasco Sports Club had a good
goalkeeper in Caetano when it won the Bandodkar Gold Trophy at the expense of
Dempo in 1975. Caetano had the benefit of being coached by Peter Thangaraj.
Thereafter, he joined Dempo and did extremely well in the 1978 Rovers Cup
tournament which it won, defeating Orkay Mills in the final. Caetano was in the
Goa team for the 1980 National at Cuttack and the 1983 National at Calcutta.
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