Sporting CG
Indian association football club based in Goa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sporting Clube de Goa (simply known as Sporting Goa and abbreviated as SCG)[1][2] is an Indian professional football club based in Panaji, Goa.[3] The club competes in the I-League 2, the third tier of the Indian football league system and the Goa Football League.[4][5] They previously competed in the I-League,[6] then the top domestic flight.[7][8]
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| Full name | Sporting Clube de Goa | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Flaming Orange | |||
| Short name | SCG | |||
| Founded | 1999 (as Cidade de Goa) | |||
| Ground | GMC Athletic Stadium (selected matches) | |||
| Capacity | 3,000 | |||
| Owner | City of Goa | |||
| Chairman | Peter Vaz | |||
| Head coach | Armando Colaco | |||
| League | ||||
| 2023–24 | I-League 2, 5th of 8 | |||
| Website | www | |||
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The club was built on the lines of Portuguese club Sporting CP and adopted a similar club crest.[9] Sporting Clube de Goa won its first Goa Football League in 2006.[10][11] 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. The club pulled out of 2016–17 I-League,[12] citing AIFF bias against some clubs.[13][14][15]
History
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Perspective
Origins
Sporting CG, nicknamed "The Flaming Orange",[16][17] was founded in 1999 as Cidade de Goa.[18][19][20] "Cidade de Goa" (transl. City of Goa; the original name for Panaji)[21] was purchased by Sporting CG's former owner Peter Vaz later and it was renamed Sporting Clube de Goa in 1999.[22] 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.[23]
Formation and journey: 1999–2010
The club as a professional football club, came into existence in 1999,[24] 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.[25] The club, built on the lines of Portuguese club Sporting Clube de Portugal, has made rapid strides in the national circuit.[25] 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.[25]
After winning the 2002–03 National Football League II,[26] 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.[27] 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.[28] Sporting entered into the finals of 2005 Federation Cup, but finished as the runner-up.[29]
In 2005, Sporting missed the Durand Cup title by a whisker when the Army XI produced an upset to win.[30][31] In the 2006 edition of Federation Cup, they reached the finals once again, but lost in penalty shoot-out to Mohun Bagan AC.[28][32][33] In 2008, Sporting Goa took part in E. K. Nayanar Gold Cup, played a 0–0 draw with Brazilian side Associação Ferroviária de Esportes in group stages.[34][35] The club achieved third place in the 2008–09 I-League.[36]
Later years: 2010–present
After getting relegated from the I-League in 2010,[37] 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 by 3–1.[38] In 2016, they again progressed to the semi-finals, until being beaten by Aizawl.[39] 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.[40]
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.[41] 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.[42] In August 2022, legendary Goan manager Armando Colaco was appointed as new head coach by the club on a three-year deal.[43][44][45][46] The club reached final of GFA Charity Cup in 2023.[47] In August 2023, Sporting Goa was granted an I-League 3 spot to participate in the inaugural edition.[48][49][50] 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.[51][52][53] In 2023–24 I-League 2, the club ended their campaign achieving fifth place with 19 points in 14 matches.[54][55] In May, Sporting Goa clinched their seventh Goa Professional League title.[56]
In June 2024, SCG appointed Savio Medeira as new technical director.[57] The club took part in 2024 Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy, in which foreign teams Brisbane Roar and Defensa y Justicia participated.[58][59][60] They suffered a 2–0 defeat to Brisbane Roar on 30 August.[61] In 2024–25 season, the club competed in I-League 2.[62]
Club crest and kits
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Perspective
Crest
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.[63][64][65] 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.[63] 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[63] of Sporting Portugal's crest in use until 2001 by the Portuguese sports club.[66]
While the crest of Sporting Goa is coloured in green and white, the official club colours are orange and white.[67][68] The club's nickname is "Flaming Orange".[69][70][71]
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Ownership
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.[74]
Stadium
Traditionally, Sporting Goa played at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao.[75][76] 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 was back in the top-tier, they started to play home games at the Fatorda Stadium.[77][78][79][80]
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).[81] They also used Duler during the 2013–14 I-League.[82] In Goa, it became the second stadium to get artificial turf, in 2012.[83][84] In January 2024, the club again moved to Tilak Maidan Stadium ahead of the I-League 2 season kick-off.[85] In 2025, they decided to use GMC Athletic Stadium and Ella Academy Ground as home stadiums.
Rivalries
In the land of Portuguese heritage,[86] Sporting Clube de Goa has rivalries with their fellow Goan sides; Dempo,[87] Churchill Brothers and Salgaocar,[88][89][90] whom they faced in I-League and face in Goa Professional League.[91][92] The club previously had a rivalry with another Goan side Pax of Nagoa.[93]
Academy, youth and infrastructure
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Perspective
Overview
On 16 August 2013, Sporting launched their football academy on the occasion of the 198th anniversary of the founding of Don Bosco.[94] 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,[95][96] 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.[97] 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.[98] 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.[99][100][101]
Academy honours
In the community
Sporting Clube de Goa launched its mascot named "Zumba" (the first live mascot introduced in the league).[106][107] besides its theme song "Flaming Orange", composed by one of Goa's leading bands, Sky High With Pomp.[108]
Players
First-team players
- As of 28 December 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
League
- I-League
- National Football League II
- Champions (1): 2002–03[111]
- I-League 2
- I-League 3
- Goa Football League
Cup
- Indian Super Cup
- Federation Cup[125]
- Durand Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2005[128]
- Goa Governor's Cup
- Goa Police Cup
Others
Managerial history
Alex Alvares (—2007)[10]
Clifford Chukwuma (2007–2009)[141][142]-
Roy Barreto (2009)[143] - Vishwas Gaonkar (2009)[144]
- Ekendra Singh (2010–2012)[145][146][147]
Óscar Bruzón (2012–2014)[148][149]- Mateus Costa (2014–2019)[150][151]
- Francisco Vaz (2019–2022)[152]
- Armando Colaco (2022—present)[43]
Notable players
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.
_and_Odafa_Onyeka_Okolie_of_Nigeria_in_Sporting_Goa_kit,_before_an_I-League_match_in_August_2015.jpg)
World Cup players
Anthony Wolfe (2013–2014)[153]- Densill Theobald (2015–2016)[154][155]
Other foreign internationals
Louis Aniweta (2002–2003)[156]
Nicholas Muyoti (2007–2008)[157]- Boniface Ambani (2007–2008)[158]
Lawrence Adjei (2007–2008)[159]
Chad Bertrand (2010)[160][161]
Stanley Bernard (2010–2011)[162][163]
James Moga (2011)[164][165]
Boubacar Keita (2011–2013)[166]
Joseph Amoah (2012–2013)[167]
Koffi Dan Kowa (2014–2015)[168]- Glenton Wolfe (2014–2015)[169][170]
- Pablo Gallardo (2014–2015)[171]
- Miguel Garcia (2015)[nb 2][172]
Mahmoud Amnah (2015–2016)[173]
Club World Cup players
Average attendances
| Season | Ave.Attendance | League & Cups ! |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 435 | I-League Div 2 |
| 2006–07 | 420 | I-League Div 2 |
| 2007–08 | 2,304 | I-League Division 1 |
| 2008–09 | 1,035 | I-League Division 1 |
| 2009–10 | 4,382 | I-League Division & AFC Champions League |
| 2010–11 | 893 | I-League Division 2 |
| 2011–12 | 348 | I-League Division 2 |
| 2012–13 | 362 | I-League Division 2 |
| 2013–14 | 453 | I-League Division 2 |
| 2014–15 | 1,203 | I-League Division 1 |
Other departments
SCG futsal
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.[177][178][179]
- Honours
SCG hockey
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.[182]
- Honours
- Goa Women's Hockey League
- Champions (2): 2014, 2015[182]
See also
Footnotes
- Sporting Clube de Goa and Churchill Brothers were declared joint winners of Goa Pro League as the 13 remaining games could not be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Garcia earned a Portugal national football B team cap on January 26, 2006.
References
External links
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