Latest news with #FCGoa
CNA
6 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Sports-From batting to bowling: India's Kohli invests in World Bowling League
NEW DELHI :The proposed World Bowling League has received a major boost after marquee India cricketer Virat Kohli came on board as a strategic investor on Wednesday. Apart from being the leading name in international cricket, Kohli is a social media phenomenon and the third-most followed athlete on Instagram behind footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. "The World Bowling League (WBL) is pleased to announce cricketing icon Virat Kohli as a strategic investor in the league, igniting a bold new chapter to elevate the sport of bowling," the league organisers said in a statement. Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts bought the first announced team in the WBL, which is yet to announce the franchises and schedule of the first event of the league featuring mixed-gender teams. "I started bowling when I was 11 years old, spinning the ball by 12," the 36-year-old Kohli said in a statement issued by League Sports Co., the owner of WBL. "It is evident how popular the sport is while being under-appreciated as a business proposition." "I'm thrilled to join the WBL as an investor and partner." Kohli owns a team in the E1 World Championship power-boat series and has a stake in Indian Super League soccer team FC Goa. "When I discovered Virat is also a bowler, it was exciting to align on this new-age vision for the sport," said Adi K. Mishra, founder and CEO of League Sports Co. "Every week, we uncover more about bowling's global depth and fascinating history - it's a sleeping giant we're ready to awaken." Former India captain Kohli, who plays in the Indian Premier League, retired from test cricket earlier this month and now only features in internationals in the 50-overs format.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Lucio in hospital after suffering multiple burns
Lucio, who had a stint with FC Goa is being treated at a hospital in Brasilia following the incident which occurred on Friday Panaji: Brazil's World Cup winner and football legend Lucio has been placed in intensive care after suffering burns to various parts of his body. The former Brazil captain, who had a stint with FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) as their marquee player, is being treated at a hospital in Brasilia following the incident which occurred on Friday. According to reports, Lucio sustained the burns in a domestic accident at home. The hospital where Lucio is treated released a statement but did not provide details about the injuries. In a statement, the hospital said the patient 'is stable, conscious and under the care of a multidisciplinary team, receiving specialised medical monitoring for treatment of the burns'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You - See Tips Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo A statement shared on Lucio's Instagram story revealed that the former defender is stable, conscious and receiving all necessary medical attention. 'Injuries are being treated with specialised care, and clinical framework is evolving positively. We are immensely grateful for the love, prayers and messages of support that we have received at this delicate time. We ask to respect our family's privacy and will inform you any relevant news via the official channels. With faith, strength and God's support, he will recover soon,' said the statement. With over 100 appearances, Lucio is best known for being a staple in Brazil's defence from 2000-2011, helping them win the World Cup in 2002. Lucio's football career took him to several clubs including Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Inter Milan, where he was part of Jose Mourinho's famous 2010 treble-winning side that lifted the Champions League that season. He also spent two years in Goa as FC Goa's marquee player in the ISL. With Zico as coach, Lucio captained Goa to the final of the 2015 edition.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Winning trophies, delighting fans a priority, says Mohun Bagan dev team coach Deggie Cardozo
Mohun Bagan dev team coach Deggie Cardozo along with Leewan Castanha (left) and Sahil Inamdar (right) PANAJI: Mohun Bagan Super Giant are proving to be in a league of their own and have shown it in good measure, particularly this season when the senior side won a double in the Indian Super League (ISL). The Kolkata giants not just retained their league Shield but also topped it with the trophy. The future is in safe hands too. Their developmental side, headed by coach Deggie Cardozo from Goa, won the Reliance Football Development League (RFDL), a first for the club. 'It was a really challenging season, especially being new to the club and the environment,' said Deggie. 'In Kolkata, the pressure was immense, from the fans to the club management and players.' The 37-year-old, who earlier coached ATK, returned to Kolkata after a three-year stint with FC Goa at the beginning of the season. They had a tough start to the season, struggling in the Calcutta Football League as the coach had to integrate new players and understand their mindsets. It took time to finalise the team he wanted, and when he did, things started to click. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like It's Hard To Believe But Every Guy Had A Crush On Her In The 90s Boite A Scoop Undo 'At Mohun Bagan, we pride ourselves on developing talented players and fostering a strong winning mentality. That's the mindset I've installed in our team. I'm pleased to say the players have responded exceptionally well,' said Deggie. Mohun Bagan were scheduled to take part in the Premier League Next Gen Cup in Mumbai from Monday, but the tournament has been put on hold for this year amid tensions between India and Pakistan. Bagan were clubbed in group B alongside English youth teams Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest and FC Goa. The other group comprised AFC Bournemouth, Kaizer Chief FC, Muthoot FA and Jamshedpur FC. The sixth edition of the tournament with teams from the Premier League, India and South Africa taking part would have been a good opportunity for Deggie and his team. Not just Deggie, it would have been helpful for two of the Goan players too with Leewan Castanha and Sahil Inamdar eager to prove themselves on the bigger stage. 'Training under coach Deggie at Mohun Bagan has been an incredible experience,' said Leewan. 'His knowledge of the game, attention to detail, and ability to bring out the best in each player has helped me grow tremendously.' The defender was previously with FC Goa's reserve side and never came close to winning the RFDL in three attempts. His dream finally came true, and as soon as he won the title, he called his family. 'Seeing their (families) joy when I showed them the medal and the trophy made the victory even more meaningful. It's a memory I'll cherish for the rest of my life,' said Leewan. Meanwhile, centre-back Sahil, who played an instrumental role for Geno FC in the Goa Professional League, proved his worth and is now looking to break into the first team. 'I'm excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. With Mohun Bagan's rich history and coach Deggie's guidance, I'm confident that I'll continue to grow as a player.' Deggie's key goal for next season will be to develop players for the first team. 'Of course, winning trophies for the club and delighting our passionate fans remains a top priority,' said Deggie.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
No time to relax for CD Salgaocar
After finishing third in Goa Pro League on debut, CD Salgaocar ensured qualification for next season's third division I-League Panaji: Clube de Salgaocar made heads turn on debut in the Goa Professional League . Having secured a direct corporate entry into the top tier of Goan football, the club stayed away from glamorous signings and handed the keys to a young Keenan Almeida . Not much was expected from the coach or the club in its first year, but the new entrants made a steady start and then finished strongly. CD Salgaocar secured the third spot behind champions Sporting Clube de Goa and Dempo SC , good enough for them to ensure qualification for next season's third division I-League , a significant achievement. 'We took one match at a time and set our goals as the season progressed,' Keenan told TOI. 'Any team at the start of the season targets for the title. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far As the season progresses, you start setting up achievable practical targets based on how the team is shaping up.' Keenan, a former international, did well for himself as a footballer, having donned colours for all the top clubs. The image of him running the length of Fatorda after scoring for FC Goa, arms stretched, his head bandaged, has stayed in the minds of fans for a long time. As coach though he was untested, yet Salgaocar kept faith in him, impressed with the goals that he sets for himself and the team. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Vietnam (Take A Look At The Prices) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo If the first season results are any indication, they made the right choice. 'It was smooth sailing as the management put things in place in a very professional manner. When you have like-minded people around you, facing challenges becomes easy,' said the former FC Goa defender. The GPL now has 14 teams, so it was never going to be easy for the debutants, owned by industrialist Dattaraj Salgaocar , who co-owned Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa during its inception in 2014. Salgaocar still managed to win 12 of their 20 matches, drawing five and losing just three times. Having qualified for the third division I-League, Salgaocar will have to reboot for next season. The club and coach wants to retain the core and make additions which are good enough to test teams at the national level. Just two seasons ago, Dempo and Sporting Clube both started their comeback from I-League 3. While Dempo secured promotion to the I-League the following season, Sporting fell just short. 'Right from the start of the season, we focussed on setting up a culture at the club. Culture that values a hard-working attitude and a disciplined approach. This is just one step taken in the right direction. I would say now there is more work to be done. So, there is no time to relax, we keep working humbly towards the next challenges,' said Keenan.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
HT Kick Off: 'Super' FC Goa's deserved a trophy
Dejan Dražić dragged Ashutosh Mehta out of position and found Aakash Sangwan with a first-time flick. And with that deft touch, Dražić had carved open Jamshedpur FC leading to the first goal of the Kalinga Super Cup final. It was Carl McHugh who had set the move going and it was fitting that the industrious Irishman would then help Dražić score with a pass that cut through two lines. So dominant were FC Goa that a national trophy after four seasons and a return to Asia were never in doubt in the last top tier match of 2024-25. It happened with a squad FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez said comprised friends rather than teammates. In the comeback against Punjab FC, equalising two minutes from time and finding a winner, FC Goa showed the character needed to thrive in a knockout tournament. In the way Borja Herrera scored the final's second, they showed class. This was hardly how a cup competition should be conducted but about this there was no doubt: FC Goa were the best team in it. FC Goa were less than two minutes from forcing extra-time in the ISL semi-final which, ironically, did not go that far because Dražić, who was otherwise superb that night against Bengaluru FC, played back when he could have done the opposite. Mohun Bagan Super Giant were an irresistible force – for them money is never a problem because of Mr Goenka, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, speaking as a guest at an East Bengal event – but with significantly less resource, FC Goa finished second 10 points ahead of the rest. ISL's numbers are skewed because Mohun Bagan and East Bengal arrived late and teams have wound up or relocated but that FC Goa have made the most play-offs (8 in 11 editions) and scored the most goals show they have been doing something right. Actually, they have been doing a lot of things right. Signing Zico, who didn't shirk from giving Indian players a run out, taking a punt on Anwar Ali even if it meant training people to use defibrillators, running Little Gaurs League where 1225 matches across age-groups from under-6 to under-16 for boys and girls were played this time (that ended with a Super Cup as well, one day after the final in Bhubaneswar), and starting an award in honour of Ferran Corominas, FC Goa's growth as an institution has been one of ISL's success stories. But, for me, the biggest success story is FC Goa's investment in youth. Their development team have won the Goa Professional League and the Goa Police Cup. Brison Fernandes, adjudged Emerging Player of 2024-25 in ISL and by AIFF, joined the club's under-16 squad in 2016 worked his way through age-specific sides and the development team, played in the state league, the Police Cup and is now an international. Muhammed Nemil is another young player in whom FC Goa invested, signing him from the Reliance Foundation Young Champs on a long-term deal and then sending him to Spain to train. This term, Prachit Gaonkar became the first FC Goa player to have played for all their youth teams (under-13, under-15, under-17, under-19) and the development squad before making his ISL debut. It is a story similar to Vinith Venkatesh at Bengaluru FC and appropriate for a club that made stars out of local players Mandar Rao Dessai and Romeo Fernandes. Appropriate also for a state, which according to Goa Football Association (GFA) president Caitano Fernandes, has 6800 registered players excluding those who play inter-village and other private tournaments. GFA organised 1400 matches this season, Fernandes has said in a letter to AIFF seeking clarification on how the federation rewarded state associations for promoting the game this season. Given the massive financial stress running a football team in India is, it is understandable that youth development would be given the short shrift. Finding players through trials just before an age-specific I-League is the usual route for most clubs. Especially because there simply aren't enough games available to justify building a team for the season. That is what makes FC Goa's attempt to create an organic pathway for player development commendable. It helps you understand why Marquez, the club's most successful coach ever with 37 wins in 61 matches over two seasons, says that in terms of organisation, FC Goa is the best club in India. And why he could leave the India job for another season or two at FC Goa.
