Dempo Sports Club like a family for me, says coach Armando Colaco

Dempo Sports Club went through several ups and downs, but the Goans still managed to seal their fourth I-League title.

No wonder coach Armando Colaco is over the moon, and credited his boys for the success. “Their hard work paid off,” he told DNA.

Colaco, who hails from Curtorim — a hamlet in South Goa — has played a great role in Dempo’s success. Under him, the side has won four national league titles, one Federation Cup, one Durand Cup and a host of other titles.    What’s more, Dempo also secured a   historical semifinal berth in the 2008 AFC Cup.

The team man that he is, Colaco does not want to single out any particular player for the team’s phenomenal success. “There were some teething problems. For instance, Sunil Chettri left the team midway. We had a good bench but many were of the opinion that Sunil’s departure would be a setback. However, it was not to be,” he says.

“I owe it to the boys. The club is like a family. I talk to them and they listen to me. But sometimes I also listen to them,” he added.
But the ride till now has been a roller-coaster one for Colaco, who lost his father when he was quite young.

He braved that to pursue his ambition to play the game. He started right from a young age during his schooling at Don Bosco, Panjim, where Fr Joseph Casti and Fr Thomas, in particular, encouraged him.

He has coached many teams including Sesa Goa, and since 2000, he was roped in by Dempo as a coach and these 10 years can easily be termed the golden era of the club.