Sporting Goa

Full name	Sporting Clube de Goa
Nickname(s)	The Flaming Orange
Short name	SCG
Founded	1999; 25 years ago (1999) (as Cidade de Goa)[1][2]
Ground	Fatorda Stadium (selected matches)
Capacity	19,000
Owner	City of Goa
Chairman	Peter Vaz
Head coach	Armando Colaco
League	I-League 2 Goa Professional League
2022–23	GPL, 2nd
Website	www.sportingclubedegoa.in
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Departments of Sporting Clube de Goa
Football (Men's)	Futsal (Men's)	Football (reserves & academy)

Sporting Clube de Goa (simply known as Sporting Goa and abbreviated as SCG)^[3][4] is an Indian professional football club based in Panaji, Goa.^[5] The club competes in the I-League 2, the third tier of the Indian football league system and the Goa Football League.^[6][7] Nicknamed "The Flaming Orange",^[8][9] the club was founded in 1999 as Cidade de Goa.^[10] They previously competed in the I-League,^[11] then top-flight of Indian football league system.^[12][13]

The club was built on the lines of Portuguese club Sporting CP and adopted a similar club crest.^[14] The club Cidade de Goa (City of Goa) was purchased by Sporting's owner late Mr Peter Vaz and wife current President Mrs Natalina Vaz and renamed Sporting Clube de Goa in 1999.^[15] Sporting Clube de Goa won its first Goa Football League in 2006.^[16][17] Since then it has clinched the title in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021. Sporting Goa is the only club to have won the Super Cup without winning the league or Federation Cup.

Sporting Clube de Goa pulled out of 2016–17 I-League,^[18] citing AIFF bias against some clubs.^[19][20][21]

A sports and recreational club named 'Sporting Clube de Goa' was established in Goa (then in Portuguese India) as the branch number 114 of Sporting Clube de Portugal.^[22]

The club as a professional football club, came into existence in 1999,^[23] when the residents of Panjim decided the launch of a football club after "Cidade dé Goa" (a local club) disbanded its football team. Thus, after Vasco Sports Club, Sporting became the second club of public shareholding in Goa.^[24] The club, built on the lines of Portuguese club Sporting Clube de Portugal, has made rapid strides in the national circuit.^[24] Sporting shot to prominence with an impressive performance in the 2001–02 Federation Cup, the team made it to the last four after victories over stronger teams like East Bengal FC and Indian Bank Recreational Club.^[24]

After winning the 2002–03 National Football League II,^[25] Sporting made its debut in the 2003–04 season of National Football League. In 2004–05 NFL season, they were on the verge of winning their first league championship but lost out on the last day when Dempo pipped them to the title.^[26] Their season was marred by a horrific bus accident that ruled out 4 key players for the whole season while several others were injured. However, led by Nigerian import Dudu Omagbemi, they managed to complete their matches in a very short period after being given a few weeks off so that their players could recover, and heroically came second ahead of traditional powerhouses East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Salgaocar and Mahindra United.^[27] Sporting entered into the finals of 2005 Federation Cup, but finished as the runner-up.^[28]

In 2005, Sporting missed the Durand Cup title by a whisker when the Army XI produced an upset to win.^[29][30] In the 2006 edition of Federation Cup, they reached the finals once again, but lost in penalty shoot-out to Mohun Bagan AC.^[27][31][32] They achieved third place in the 2008–09 I-League.^[33]

After getting relegated from the I-League in 2010,^[34] they participated in the 2011 I-League 2nd Division and won promotion by finishing in 2nd place. At the final of 2013–14 Indian Federation Cup, Churchill Brothers defeated Sporting Goa 3–1.^[35] In 2016, they again progressed to the semi-finals of Federation Cup, until being beaten by Aizawl.^[36] In June 2020, Sporting Goa enjoyed an international transfer when club's Indian forward Shanon Viegas signed with Portuguese AF Lisboa 2ª Divisão Série side C.D. Olivais e Moscavide for a long-term deal.^[37]

In the 2020–21 Goa Professional League,^{[nb 1]} Sporting Clube de Goa emerged champions after recording a comprehensive 9–0 win over Guardian Angel in the final league match at Chowgule ground, but was not selected for I-League Second Division.^[38] Their futsal section won the GFA State Futsal Championship, earning a place in AIFF Futsal Club Championship. In the 2021–22 season, Sporting Goa finished as runners-up, finishing behind Dempo.^[39] In August 2022, legendary Goan manager Armando Colaco was appointed as new head coach by the club on a three-year deal.^[40][41] The club reached final of GFA Charity Cup in 2023.^[42] In August 2023, Sporting Goa was granted an I-League 3 spot to participate in the inaugural edition.^[43][44][45] In that edition, the club crowned champions with superior head-to-head record against Dempo and Sporting Bengaluru in play-offs, securing promotion to the I-League 2.^[46][47][48] In 2023–24 I-League 2, the club ended their campaign achieving fifth place with 19 points in 14 matches.^[49][50] In May, Sporting Goa clinched their seventh Goa Professional League title.^[51]

In June 2024, SCG appointed Savio Medeira as new technical director.^[52] The club took part in 2024 Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy, in which foreign teams Brisbane Roar and Defensa y Justicia participated.^[53][54][55] They suffered a 2–0 defeat to Brisbane Roar on 30 August.^[56]

The crest of Sporting Clube de Goa is predominantly a replica of the former crest of Sporting CP, which was in use by the Portuguese club from 1945 until 2001.^[57][58][59] One notable difference is that on Sporting Portugal's current crest it says "Sporting Portugal", while Sporting Goa's does not because Sporting CP's old crest, used by Sporting Goa, didn't have any word on it.^[57] Another difference is that Sporting Portugal's current crest is mostly dark green and yellow while Sporting Goa's is dark green and white just like the previous iteration^[57] of Sporting Portugal's crest in use until 2001 by the Portuguese sports club.^[60]

While the crest of Sporting Goa is coloured in green and white, the official club colours are orange and white.^[61][62] The club's nickname is "Flaming Orange".^[63][64][65]

The club was modeled on the Portuguese giants Sporting Clube de Portugal and has adopted a similar club crest. The club was founded as Cidade de Goa and was taken over by entrepreneurs Peter Vaz and Edgar Afonso. Later, they renamed it Sporting Clube de Goa in 1999.^[67]

Traditionally, Sporting Goa have played at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao.^[68][69] During the 2011 I-League 2nd Division. However, they had to play at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong as the league did not have a home-and -away format. As SC Goa were back in the top-tier, they started to play home games at the Fatorda Stadium.^{[70][71][72][73]}

Goa Football Association owned Duler Stadium in Mapusa became the home ground of Sporting during the 2012–13 I-League, alongside Tilak Maidan Stadium (from January).^[74] They also used Duler during the 2013–14 I-League.^[75] In Goa, it became the second stadium to get AstroTurf, in 2012.^[76][77] In January 2024, the club again moved to Tilak Maidan Stadium ahead of the I-League 2 season kick-off.^[78]

In the land of Portuguese heritage,^[79] Sporting Clube de Goa has rivalries with their fellow Goan sides; Dempo,^[80] Churchill Brothers and Salgaocar,^[81][82][83] whom they faced in I-League and face in Goa Professional League.^[84][85] The club previously had a rivalry with another Goan side Pax of Nagoa.^[86]

On 16 August 2013, Sporting launched their football academy on the occasion of the 198th anniversary of the founding of Don Bosco.^[87] The academy for various age groups, namely U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, and U-20, with the coaching team built around Spanish coach Javier Fernández, assisted by Norbert Gonsalves, Ashwin Crasto, Francisco Raposo and Freddy Gomes. They worked under the overall supervision and guidance of Sporting's then head coach Oscar Bruzon,^[88][89] in order to implement the Sporting Clube de Goa youth development plan. Sporting Goa also renovated the football ground at Don Bosco College in Panaji with the installation of sub-surface slit drainage combined with the laying of perforated pipes.^[90] The original mud topping has given way to a sand-based top layer, which encourages drainage and healthy grass growth, and provides a level and cushioned playing surface.^[91] Between 2013 and 2015, Spanish coach Javier Fernández Cabrera worked as technical director, as well as assistant coach of the club, playing key role behind Sporting Goa's youth development.^[92][93][94]

• I-League U19
  • Champions (1): 2010^[95]
  • Runners-up (1): 2008^[96]
• Taça Goa U18 League
  • Champions (1): 2017^[97]
• Taça Goa U20 League
  • Champions (1): 2018^[98]

Sporting Clube de Goa launched its mascot named "Zumba" (the first live mascot introduced in the league).^[99][100] besides its theme song "Flaming Orange", composed by one of Goa's leading bands, Sky High With Pomp.^[101]

As of 2 November 2023^[102]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  IND Kunal Kundaikar 3 DF  IND Myron Fernandes 4 DF  IND Alton Vaz 5 DF  IND Joel Colaco 7 MF  IND Sidharth Kundaikar 8 MF  IND Lloyd Mascarenhas 10 FW  IND Lloyd Cardozo 11 MF  IND Marcus Mascarenhas (Captain) 12 MF  IND Joyson Regan Gauncar 14 DF  IND Dhiraj Chouhan 15 MF  IND Samuel Gregorio Costa 16 MF  IND Doyal Alves 17 MF  IND Rohan Rodrigues

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW  IND Dattaraj Gaonkar 21 GK  IND Abhimanyu Singh 22 MF  IND Chandan Gawas 23 MF  IND Biswa Darjee 24 MF  IND Ivon Costa 24 MF  IND Vidipt Dua 17 MF  IND Flagan Rodrigues 30 GK  IND Bhaskar Jalmi 34 DF  IND Joyson Pelagius Coutinho 40 GK  IND Vipin Sharma 49 FW  IND Liston Cardozo

• I-League
  • Runners-up (1): 2004–05^[103]
  • Third place (1): 2008–09^[104]
• National Football League II
  • Champions (1): 2002–03^[105]
• I-League 2nd Division
  • Runners-up (1): 2010–11^[106]
• I-League 3
  • Champions (1): 2023–24^[107][108]
• Goa Football League
  • Champions (7): 2006–07,^[109] 2013–14,^[110] 2015–16,^[111] 2017–18,^[112] 2019–20 (shared),^[113][114] 2020–21, 2023–24
  • Runners-up (3): 2016–17,^[115] 2021–22, 2022–23

• Federation Cup^[116]
  • Runners-up (3): 2005, 2006,^[117] 2013–14^[118]
• Indian Super Cup
  • Champions (1): 2005^[119][120]
• Durand Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2005^[121]
• Goa Governor's Cup
  • Champions (2): 2005, 2007–08^[122]
  • Runners-up (1): 2003^[123]
• Goa Police Cup
  • Champions (1): 2018^[124]
  • Runners-up (3): 2005,^[125] 2010,^[126] 2019^[127]

• AWES Cup
  • Champions (1): 2018^[128]
• GFA Charity Cup
  • Champions (1): 2018^[128]
  • Runners-up (2): 2021,^[129] 2023^[130]
• SCG Goodwill Cup
  • Champions (1): 2015^[131]
• Guru Gobind Singh Trophy
  • Runners-up (1): 2000^[132]

• Alex Alvares (??—2007)^[16]
• Clifford Chukwuma (2007–2009)^[134][135]
• Roy Barreto (2009)^[136]
• Vishwas Gaonkar (2009)^[137]
• Ekendra Singh (2010–2012)^{[138][139][140]}
• Óscar Bruzón (2012–2014)^[141][142]
• Mateus Costa (2014–2019)^[143][144]
• Francisco Vaz (2019–2022)^[145]
• Armando Colaco (2022—present)^[40]

The players below, had senior/youth international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed represented their countries before or after playing for Sporting clube de Goa.

World Cup players

• Anthony Wolfe (2013–2014)^[146]
• Densill Theobald (2015–2016)^[147][148]

Other foreign internationals

• Louis Aniweta (2002–2003)^[149]
• Nicholas Muyoti (2007–2008)^[150]
• Boniface Ambani (2007–2008)^[151]
• Lawrence Adjei (2007–2008)^[152]
• Chad Bertrand (2010)^[153][154]
• Stanley Bernard (2010–2011)^[155][156]
• James Moga (2011)^[157][158]
• Boubacar Keita (2011–2013)^[159]
• Joseph Amoah (2012–2013)^[160]
• Koffi Dan Kowa (2014–2015)^[161]
• Glenton Wolfe (2014–2015)^[162][163]
• Pablo Gallardo (2014–2015)^[164]
• Miguel Garcia (2015)^{[nb 2][165]}
• Mahmoud Amnah (2015–2016)^[166]

Club World Cup players

• Ángel Berlanga (2013)^{[167][168][169]}

Sporting Goa formed its futsal section in later years. It went on to compete in the inaugural edition of Futsal Club Championship, the top-tier futsal club competition in the country.^{[170][171][172]}

Honours

• Goa Futsal Championship
  • Champions (1): 2021^[173][174]

Sporting Goa also operates women's field hockey team, that competes in the Goa Women's Hockey League, and won several editions of the tournament.^[175]

Honours

• Goa Women's Hockey League
  • Champions (2): 2014, 2015^[175]

• List of Goan State Football Champions
• List of football clubs in Goa

Cited sources

• Official website
• SC de Goa on Facebook
• Sporting Clube de Goa at the-AIFF.com
• Sporting Clube de Goa team profile and statistics at Global Sports Archive
• Sporting Clube de Goa at Sofascore
• News on SCG at Goal.com