After good show in Goa Pro League, Sesa FA turn focus on I-League

Panaji: Sesa FA came close to winning their first senior division title in more than 50 years but had to settle for the runnersup spot in the Goa Professional League (GPL), finishing second behind Sporting Clube de Goa on the concluding day this season.

Sesa had an influential football team in the seventies and eighties but decided to shut shop and start a football academy in 1998. Since then, the team has not come close anywhere near the top, until this season when Charles Dias’ side took many by surprise.

Sesa have now qualified for next season’s I-League 3 and the management believes this is an important step towards regaining former glory.

“Sesa FA, over the years, has contributed immensely to Goan and Indian football and the promotion of the senior team to I-League 3 will further fuel the effort,” Navin Jaju, CEO, Sesa Goa, said during the team felicitation on Saturday. “We will continue to work towards our quest of regaining the erstwhile glory of Goan and Indian football.”

Goa Football Association (GFA) president Caitano Fernandes said he was confident the team will be promoted up the I-League ladder. “In the last four-five years, Sesa FA has made very commendable progress,” he said.

Former India captain Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, independent director- SCDF PK Mukherjee and Leena Verenkar, Head ESG, Vedanta Sesa Goa, were among those present for the felicitation at the Sirsaim campus.

During the ceremony, 31 players and staff were felicitated with specially designed medals. A special award was instituted for Joshua D’Silva, for being the highest goal scorer with 24 goals in the GPL.



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