Against all odds Dempo march on

Last week, Dempo Sports Club created history by becoming the first Indian club to reach the AFC Cup semifinal. They won the National League thrice in last four years. Clearly, they are the team to beat as far as Indian football is concerned.

But all’s not well back in the ranch. Their request to the state Government for a piece of land has so far fallen on deaf ears. The club management and coach Armando Colaco hope that the AFC Cup achievement may now bring on some good news.

Dempo generally train at the University ground that barely meets the required standards. The conditions have deteriorated due to rains. The team had a hard time finding a suitable ground for training ahead of their AFC Cup semifinal. The club doesn’t have a gymnasium let alone modern equipments like Jacuzzi.

Players, however, are not complaining. Rather they are interested in talking about the team spirit and Colaco’s contribution that has helped them reach the top.

He elaborated: “Ranty Martins and Roberto Silva Beto lead from the front. Beto gives us quotes of some world greatest philosophers before every match. It’s a real motivating factor. Martins takes up the cudgel when we are under pressure and shows us the way.”

After the AFC Cup win over Home United, Singapore the team returned to a cold reception. The players were not upset though. The club president has already announced incentives that will be presented after he returns from Japan.

Coach prefers to keep a low profile and gives credit to his boys. “That I didn’t make a single change in our last two AFC Cup matches speaks volumes for the way the players performed,” he told The Indian Express.

Dempo, however, stumbled in the I-League opener against JCT. But Colaco doesn’t want to read too much into that loss. “Right now I have set my sights on the AFC Cup semifinal against Safa FC of Lebanon,” he said.

Dempo will play host to the first-leg tie on October 7, while the return-leg match will be played on October 21.