Vasco Sports Club
Encyclopedia
Vasco Sports Club are a football club from Goa
, India
. They currently play in the I-League 2nd Division
which is India's second most prominent football league.
, including the Portuguese
garrison stationed there formed the club called Clube de Desportos Vasco da Gama.
It was named after the famous Brazilian club Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
, and similar colours were adopted by it. The open fields where the present Tilak Maidan Stadium
and were the practice grounds for the players. Later a club house was built nearby, which still stands today.
During the last five decades the club participated in most of the major tournaments in India. The sixties and seventies were the most productive years for the club and they won some of the major tournaments during that time like the Kerala Trophy, Stafford Cup, Bandodkar Gold Trophy, Chakola Gold Trophy and Sait-Nagjee Trophy. It failed to stamp its mark in other tournaments like the Rovers Cup, Bordoloi Shield, Nehru Memorial Tournament, having lost out in the final.
As far as honors at home go, the club won the Goa Professional League
title on six different occasions starting in 1954 until 1969 and is the oldest registered Club still participating in the State's top League competition, never once having been relegated in the Club's history.
After two decades of major victories, the 80's saw a decline in the efficacy of the Club in terms of All India and State Tournaments. However, it retained a prominent position among the top five Clubs in Goa. The decline started when the Bandekar group withdrew support and there were no new white knights to fund the increasing cost of top class players.
Over the last five decades the club has received a lot of financial help from many philanthropic benefactors not only from the port town of Vasco, but from different parts of Goa and Goans residing abroad.
Undaunted, from the mid 90's the Club, under the leadership of Nõel da Lima Leitão, took the help of Zeca Miglietti from Portugal, former Benfica defender, as coach for its training programme. His hard work saw the Club reach the quarterfinal phase of the KBL Federation Cup and among the contenders for qualification to the Premier Division National League.
then they would have used the Fatorda Stadium
in Margao
, Goa
.
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They currently play in the I-League 2nd Division
I-League 2nd Division
The I-League 2nd Division is the second highest division of football in India after the I-League....
which is India's second most prominent football league.
History
In 1951, residents from the port town of Vasco da Gama, GoaVasco da Gama, Goa
Vasco da Gama is the largest city in the state of Goa on the west coast of India. It is named after the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Vasco has Goa's largest population, estimated at over 100,000. It is also the headquarters of the Mormugao taluka...
, including the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
garrison stationed there formed the club called Clube de Desportos Vasco da Gama.
It was named after the famous Brazilian club Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama |Rowing Club]]), usually known as Vasco da Gama or simply Vasco, is a famous and traditional Brazilian multisports club from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, founded on August 21, 1898...
, and similar colours were adopted by it. The open fields where the present Tilak Maidan Stadium
Tilak Maidan Stadium
Tilak Maidan Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Vasco da Gama, Goa, India. It is used mostly for football matches and regularly hosts matches in the I-League as well as local Goan leageus. The stadium holds 12,000 people...
and were the practice grounds for the players. Later a club house was built nearby, which still stands today.
During the last five decades the club participated in most of the major tournaments in India. The sixties and seventies were the most productive years for the club and they won some of the major tournaments during that time like the Kerala Trophy, Stafford Cup, Bandodkar Gold Trophy, Chakola Gold Trophy and Sait-Nagjee Trophy. It failed to stamp its mark in other tournaments like the Rovers Cup, Bordoloi Shield, Nehru Memorial Tournament, having lost out in the final.
As far as honors at home go, the club won the Goa Professional League
Goa Professional League
The Goa Professional League is the premier state level football league in Goa. It is organised by the Goa Football Association.-History:The official league in Goa, called the First Division began in 1951 and it was organised by the Conselho de Desportos. There was no Super League...
title on six different occasions starting in 1954 until 1969 and is the oldest registered Club still participating in the State's top League competition, never once having been relegated in the Club's history.
After two decades of major victories, the 80's saw a decline in the efficacy of the Club in terms of All India and State Tournaments. However, it retained a prominent position among the top five Clubs in Goa. The decline started when the Bandekar group withdrew support and there were no new white knights to fund the increasing cost of top class players.
Over the last five decades the club has received a lot of financial help from many philanthropic benefactors not only from the port town of Vasco, but from different parts of Goa and Goans residing abroad.
Undaunted, from the mid 90's the Club, under the leadership of Nõel da Lima Leitão, took the help of Zeca Miglietti from Portugal, former Benfica defender, as coach for its training programme. His hard work saw the Club reach the quarterfinal phase of the KBL Federation Cup and among the contenders for qualification to the Premier Division National League.
Stadium
Currently when Vasco S.C. played in the I-LeagueI-League
The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
then they would have used the Fatorda Stadium
Fatorda Stadium
The Fatorda Stadium, is a football stadium located in Margao, Goa and is the current home of Churchill Brothers S.C., Dempo S.C., Salgaocar S.C., and Sporting Clube de Goa. The stadium opened in 1989 and has an capacity of 27,300...
in Margao
Margao
Margao and commercial capital of the Indian state of Goa. It is the administrative headquarters of South Goa district and of the Salcete taluka.- Etymology :...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
.