Sporting Clube de Goa have developed a winning mentality and the Third Division I-League champions are looking to carry on with their good work as they start their Second Division campaign against Sudeva Delhi FC at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Sunday.
The Panjim-based club has talent in abundance from their youth system while the experience of captain Marcus Mascarenhas, Joyner Lourenco and Adil Khan is helping groom the future.
“Boys put in a great effort and we have stuck together till the last game to become Third Division champions. We have a good coaching staff, management. All want us to qualify for the I-League and we are ready,” said Adil.
The Second Division will feature eight teams and will be held on a home-and-away basis in a double round-robin format. The top two teams will get promoted to the 2024-25 I-League and the bottom two will be relegated to the 2024-25 I-League Third Division.
Sporting are trying hard to get back to the I-League after pulling out of the competition in 2016.
“They are very young players and open to listen to advice. They are motivated, eager to be in the I-League and I’m helping them as a senior figure and sharing my experience,” said Adil, the former India international.
Coached by Armando Colaco along with his assistant Climax Lawrence, Sporting earned promotion with one game in hand.
Another Goan side Dempo SC are also in fray along with FC Bengaluru United, Mumbai Kenkre FC, Sporting Club Bengaluru, The Oranje FC and United SC.
“It’s always going to be tough as teams are signing more players, building their squads. We have to stick to our plan, follow what the coach says and work together.
“In the beginning we lacked experience because most of the boys played only in the state league. But now, most of them have got the experience and it’s going to be a good campaign in the Second Division,” feels Adil.