Football Is The Most Popular Sport in Goa
Football is the most popular sport in Goa. Many prominent clubs from Goa participate in national league. Goa has produced four players who have captained Indian national team.
India is a Cricket crazy country. In spite of that, Goa loves football. In fact, Goa, along with West Bengal and Kerala are the only Indian states where people are passionate about Football. Goan flavour of football is different from rest of the country and is unique to its culture.
History of football in Goa date back to 1883 when Reverent Fr. William Robert Lyons, an Irish priest, introduced the sport in the curriculum of Christian education. The Goa football Association was formed in 1959. Under its auspices, club and village level tournaments are regularly arranged. In 1970, GFA hosted All India Bandodkar Gold Cup. Following its success, Goa was the venue for the national tournament popularly called Santosh Trophy in 1972. Thought hosts goa lost in the finals, Goan team eventually won the Santosh Trophy in 1982.
Goa's dominance in Indian football can be guaged from the fact that as many as five major clubs are from the state. Salgoncar club, Churchill Bros, Dempo Sports club, Clube De Sporting and Vasco SC all featuring regularly in Indian I league. success of these clubs from a small state is astonishing.
goa has given many skillful players to Indian national team. Four of them, Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, Bruno Coutinho, Mauricio Afonso, and Roberto Fernandes have had the honour to lead the national side. Goa also has good sporting infrastructure. Nehru Stadium, also called Fatroda in Margoa is famous football stadium.
In spite of growing influence of Cricket, Football in Goa is alive and kicking.
Hi,
Goa was once Portugese / European colony, we have few territory in India those were European or its one of the country's colony, European always like Football sports as first on their top list, not only European, but North & South America, Gulf and Far East countries. (UK also one of them)
Therefore, Goa and other territory in India would of course like the Football from many generation compare to other states in India who likes Cricket - an essence of UK. (Our most of the states were only UK colony once and not the European, so major states accepted Cricket).