Latest news with #Brison
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Brison wins Young Player of the Year award
Brison Fernandes' form earned him his maiden India call-up this season Panaji: FC Goa midfielder Brison Fernandes won the Young Player of the Year award at the Football Players Association of India's (FPAI) Indian Football Awards 2025 in Shillong, on Sunday. Winners across categories were selected through a player-led voting process, where active players from across the country cast their votes. Brison played an instrumental role for Goa this season under coach Manolo Marquez where the 24-year-old scored seven goals and had two assists in the Indian Super League (ISL). His impressive ISL form also earned him his maiden national team call-up, something that he had always been waiting for, against Bangladesh in the Asian Cup 2027 final round qualifiers. Brison helped Goa clinch the Super Cup after they trounced Jamshedpur FC 3-0 in the final. Brison was earlier named the ISL 2024-25 Emerging Player of the Season. Awardees: Young Player of the Year: Brison Fernandes (FC Goa), Foreign Player of the Year: Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC), Indian Player of the Year: Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC), I-League Player of the Year: Edmund Lalrindika (Inter Kashi FC), Coach of the Year: Khalid Jamil (Jamshedpur FC), Women's Indian Player of the Year: Pyari Xaxa (Odisha FC), Women's Young Player of the Year: Naorem Priyanka Devi (East Bengal).
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
From fancy dress competition to the national team: Brison Fernandes looks to keep journey going
Bhubaneswar: It has already been quite a journey for Brison Fernandes from the scenic south Goa village of Loutolim to the centrestage of Indian football . And, on Friday, when the youngster's name was announced from the stage as AIFF's Most Promising Men's Player of the Year, he could have been reminded of another stage, albeit at a kindergarten, where winning a fancy dress competition had sparked his passion for the game. 'I was in KG 2 or something and there was a fancy dress competition in my school. And my 'dada' (father) bought me a Brazil national team jersey and shoes. So I was a football player in that competition. And I won that competition,' reminisced Brison during an exclusive chat with TOI. 'So, from that day onwards, I fell in love with this game.' Yet, with no proper playground in his village, Brison forced his reluctant friends to accompany him to a ground further away every evening to play the game he had fallen in love with. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This 15-second trick clears earwax instantly OROclear Undo Having been gifted with the enthusiasm for sports like his parents, Brison played at the U12 level in his school before joining Goa-based Salgaocar FC's U14 squad. Two years later, he was brought to FC Goa academy by well-known Goan scout Jaoquim Crasto. 'When I was 15 or 16, I joined FC Goa. Then onwards, I played U18 there for maybe three seasons and then went on to pro league. And then into the senior squad,' said the youngster who went on to win the Durand Cup in 2021 with FC Goa senior squad, after title wins in Goa Professional League and Goa Police Cup with the developmental team. But that can change on Saturday if Goa can win the Super Cup. And Brison would love to do that as a parting gift for Manolo Marquez, who will forego the club reins after it. 'He (Marquez) gave me this opportunity, you know. Coach Carlos (Pena) also did that, but not as much as I used to get a chance to play in the second half. But coach Manolo believed in me. And I want to give him this trophy in return,' said the ISL Emerging Player of the Season . While Marquez has been vocal in his appreciation of this 'typical Goan player', the 24-year-old has worked hard to be ready for the 7 goals and 2 assists for FC Goa this season after a lukewarm first two seasons in ISL. 'I didn't take a break after last season because I wanted to achieve something. And to achieve something without putting in hard work is impossible. I know I have talent. But without hard work it's nothing,' explained the in-form winger who also scored Goa's opener in the Super Cup semifinal against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. His ISL form this season also earned him his maiden national team call-up, something that he had always been waiting for, against Bangladesh in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier last month. 'It's always a proud feeling wearing that badge and representing your people which I've always wanted to. I want to live that moment forever,' Brison said with a glimmer in his eyes as he recollected the moment when he got onto the Shillong pitch as a second-half substitute. 'At first, I felt very nervous. But after 1-2 passes, I began to feel comfortable. Coach Manolo also helped me a lot.' One can imagine it was a first of many such moments given his current form and the problem of finding good Indian attackers daunting Marquez at the helm of the national team. And come Saturday, Brison could help his team bid a fitting adieu to the Spanish coach while adding the second senior trophy in his journey with FC Goa.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
From fancy dress competition to the national team: Brison looks to keep journey going
Bhubaneswar: It has already been quite a journey for Brison Fernandes from the scenic south Goa village of Loutolim to the centrestage of Indian football . And, on Friday, when the youngster's name was announced from the stage as AIFF's Most Promising Men's Player of the Year, he could have been reminded of another stage, albeit at a kindergarten, where winning a fancy dress competition had sparked his passion for the game. "I was in KG 2 or something and there was a fancy dress competition in my school. And my 'dada' (father) bought me a Brazil national team jersey and shoes. So I was a football player in that competition. And I won that competition," reminisced Brison during an exclusive chat with TOI. "So, from that day onwards, I fell in love with this game." Yet, with no proper playground in his village, Brison forced his reluctant friends to accompany him to a ground further away every evening to play the game he had fallen in love with. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Clever Cleaning Agent Makes Your Car Look Years Younger Make Your Car Look Like New Undo Having been gifted with the enthusiasm for sports like his parents, Brison played at the U12 level in his school before joining Goa-based Salgaocar FC's U14 squad. Two years later, he was brought to FC Goa academy by well-known Goan scout Jaoquim Crasto. "When I was 15 or 16, I joined FC Goa. Then onwards, I played U18 there for maybe three seasons and then went on to pro league. And then into the senior squad," said the youngster who went on to win the Durand Cup in 2021 with Goa, his only trophy with the club so far. But that can change on Saturday if Goa can win the Super Cup. And Brison would love to do that as a parting gift for Manolo Marquez, who will forego the club reins after it. "He (Marquez) gave me this opportunity, you know. Coach Carlos (Pena) also did that, but not as much as I used to get a chance to play in the second half. But coach Manolo believed in me. And I want to give him this trophy in return," said the ISL Emerging Player of the Season . While Marquez has been vocal in his appreciation of this "typical Goan player", the 24-year-old has worked hard to be ready for the 7 goals and 2 assists for FC Goa this season after a lukewarm first two seasons in ISL. "I didn't take a break after last season because I wanted to achieve something. And to achieve something without putting in hard work is impossible. I know I have talent. But without hard work it's nothing," explained the in-form winger who also scored Goa's opener in the Super Cup semifinal against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. His ISL form this season also earned him his maiden national team call-up, something that he had always been waiting for, against Bangladesh in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier last month. "It's always a proud feeling wearing that badge and representing your people which I've always wanted to. I want to live that moment forever," Brison said with a glimmer in his eyes as he recollected the moment when he got onto the Shillong pitch as a second-half substitute. "At first, I felt very nervous. But after 1-2 passes, I began to feel comfortable. Coach Manolo also helped me a lot." One can imagine it was a first of many such moments given his current form and the problem of finding good Indian attackers daunting Marquez at the helm of the national team. And come Saturday, Brison could help his team bid a fitting adieu to the Spanish coach while adding another trophy in his journey with FC Goa.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Super Cup: From dressing up as a footballer to becoming one, Brison Fernandes eyes another crown with Goa
The dream of playing professional football usually starts with a ball at one's feet. For Brison Fernandes, it began at a fancy dress competition. 'When I was in kindergarten, I had to participate in a fancy dress event. My dad dressed me up as a football player. He bought me shoes, and I think I was wearing a yellow Brazil national team jersey,' Brison recalled. 'From that day onwards, I wanted to be a football player,' he said. Over a decade later, Brison signed for the reserve side of Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa (FCG) and then made heads turn in the 2024-25 season. He scored seven goals and assisted two more in 24 appearances, bagging the Emerging Player of the Season. From the shores of Goa to the summit of the Indian Super League! 🏆 Our starboy 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐬 is the ISL 2024-25 Emerging Player of the Season! 🔥🧡 — FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) April 12, 2025 Among Indians, the midfielder's goal tally was second only to Sunil Chhetri (14) as he helped FCG reach the Cup semifinals, where the Gaurs lost to Bengaluru FC. The 24-year-old has carried that momentum into Super Cup 2025, where he opened Goa's scoring in the semifinal as his side went on to eliminate ISL Cup and Shield winner Mohun Bagan Super Giant. RELATED: Manolo Marquez's FC Goa ends Mohun Bagan's campaign to enter Super Cup 2025 final Speaking to Sportstar before the final against Jamshedpur FC on May 3, Brison credited FCG head coach Manolo Marquez for putting his faith in him and giving him ample game time. 'Coach (Marquez) has always believed in me. He used to tell me that I have a lot of talent while also urging me to make some changes for improvement,' Brison said. 'It was not just on the pitch, he helped me get better off it as well, advising me on my recovery, my diet and so on. He made me a complete player,' he added. Manolo Marquez, head coach of FC Goa, cheers Brison Ferandes during an Indian Super League match. | Photo Credit: FSDL/ISL Media Marquez, in a previous interview, had heaped praise on the youngster, justifying his selection to the first team. 'Brison is a typical Goan player. He enjoys playing football. He has passed the situation that he underwent last season, where there was an air of uncertainty around his football. He is enjoying every minute of the game, and this is very important,' Marquez told Indian Super 'I speak a lot with him because he is a fantastic guy, and I keep asking him to be humble and to keep going, as he is still young, and he will reach the level that he wants to,' he added. From Loutolim to National team Born in the scenic Loutolim village in South Goa, Brison grew up kicking the ball around with odds stacked against him. 'I used to play with people above my age. Despite them being bigger and older than me, I used to just enjoy playing, and that's probably when I knew that I could go a step further,' Brison says. He played at the under-12 level in his school, then with Goa-based Salgaocar FC's U14 before joining the ISL side two years later, where he rose up the ranks to finally win the Durand Cup in 2021, his first and only senior trophy so far. Brison Fernandes poses with trophies after winning the Durand Cup in 2021, beating Mohammedan Sporting in the final. | Photo Credit: Instagram/Brison Fernandes But it was his 2024-25 stint that earned him a maiden National team call-up, against Bangladesh in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier on March 25. 'It was a very big moment for me and my family. I was very happy after seeing my name on that list. It is every footballer's dream to represent their country and wear the badge on the pitch,' Brison reflects. The midfielder came on as a second-half substitute in the goalless draw. 'I was very nervous in the first few minutes, but once I completed 2-3 passes, I felt comfortable. Knowing the coach (Marquez) from my club level also helped me adjust to the game,' he says. ALSO READ: India to face Thailand in international friendly in June ahead of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers When asked about the current struggles of the national team, Brison asserted that progress takes patience. 'You cannot just change everything overnight. It will take time, but I am sure that it will happen,' he quips. Brison no longer has to pretend to be a footballer on stage, he is one. Having won one trophy with the Gaurs, he now eyes another on Saturday, living his dream and enjoying his vocation as one of the brightest young talents in India.
