Dempo SC facts for kids
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| Full name | Dempo Sports Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Golden Eagles, The Whites | |||
| Short name | DSC | |||
| Founded | 1961 (as Clube Desportivo de Bicholim)
1967 (as Dempo Souza Sports Club) |
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| Ground | Duler Stadium Ella Academy Ground |
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| Capacity | 5,000 500 |
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| Owner | Dempo Group | |||
| Head coach | Samir Naik | |||
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Dempo Sports Club is a professional football team from Panaji, Goa, in India. They are often called "The Whites" or "Golden Eagles". This club plays in the I-League, which is one of the top football leagues in India. Dempo Sports Club is owned by the Dempo Group.
Dempo is one of the most successful football clubs in India. They were the first Indian club to reach the semi-finals of the AFC Cup in 2008. They have won the top national league title five times. This makes them one of the best teams in Indian football history.
The club has also won many other important tournaments. These include 14 Goa League Champions Cups, 4 Rovers Cups, and 2 Indian Super Cups. They also won the Federation Cup in 2004 and the Durand Cup in 2006. Dempo was even ranked as the fifth-best Indian team in international rankings between 2001 and 2010.
Contents
- Club History: Dempo's Journey
- Team Look: Crest and Colours
- Team Rivalries
- Home Grounds: Where Dempo Plays
- Who Owns Dempo Sports Club?
- Team Kit and Sponsors
- Players: Meet the Team
- Coaching Staff
- List of Managers
- Famous Players
- Partnerships with Other Clubs
- Dempo in Asian Competitions
- Club Records and Achievements
- Honours and Trophies
- Dempo Youth Academy
- See also
Club History: Dempo's Journey
How Dempo Sports Club Started (1961–1980)
Dempo Sports Club began in 1961 as Clube Desportivo de Bicholim. This team was very strong in the 1960s. Many talented players were part of the Bicholim club.
In 1967, the club was adopted by Dempo Souza and renamed Dempo Souza Sports Club. It continued to be one of the best teams in the country. Later, Dempo bought out Mr. Michael D'Souza's share, and the club became Dempo Sports Club. Vasantrao Dempo, the chairman of the Dempo Group, greatly supported the team.
The club still uses the same logo and colors chosen by its founder, Michael deSouza. Dempo won its first Goan Senior League title in 1972. Their first national tournament win was the Rovers Cup in 1975. In 1978, British coach Bob Bootland joined Dempo. He introduced a new 4–3–3 playing style, which changed Indian football. The club won the Rovers Cup again in 1978 and 1979. They also won the Stafford Challenge Cup in 1975 and 1979.
Dempo's Rise to Fame (1980–2000)
The 1980s were a "Golden-Age" for Dempo. They won many smaller cups. In 1986, they won the Rovers Cup again, beating the famous Mohun Bagan club. Dempo also won the Goan League in 1986 and 1987.
Dempo played in their first international tournament, the POMIS Cup in Maldives, in 1991. They finished as runner-up twice, in 1991 and 1992. They won the Rovers Cup again, once more defeating Mohun Bagan. Dempo was one of the original 12 teams in the first National Football League in 1996. They were relegated in 1999–2000 but quickly got promoted back the next season.
Recent Years and Comeback (2000–Present)
Dempo won their first NFL championship in 2004. They also won the very last NFL season in 2006–07. In 2006, they won the Durand Cup by beating JCT Mills. Dempo then won the first-ever I-League season in 2007–08.
Because they won the I-League, Dempo played in the 2008 AFC Cup. They reached the semi-finals but lost to Safa from Lebanon. They continued their success by winning the I-League again in 2009–10 and 2011–12.
In 2011, Dempo signed Densill Theobald, a player from Trinidad and Tobago who played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. After the 2012–13 season, Dempo said goodbye to their very successful coach, Armando Colaco. He had helped them win 5 league titles. They then hired Arthur Papas.
In March 2015, Dempo was relegated from the I-League for the first time. They then played in the I-League 2nd Division. In the 2015–16 season, they won the Second Division title. However, due to many player injuries, Dempo, along with other Goan clubs, decided to withdraw from the I-League before the 2016–17 season.
In the 2021–22 Goa Professional League season, coach Samir Naik led Dempo to win the title. This ended a decade-long wait for the club. In 2023, Dempo hired Pradhyum Reddy as their CEO. The club also won the GFA Charity Cup in August 2023. In the same month, Dempo earned a spot in the new I-League 3 tournament. They finished second in the play-offs and were promoted to I-League 2. Dempo then finished second in the I-League 2, earning promotion back to the 2024–25 I-League after nine years.
In August 2024, Dempo played in the 2024 Bandodkar Trophy. They lost their first match to Brisbane Roar, an Australian club.
Team Look: Crest and Colours
The Dempo Sports Club crest is the official logo for all the sports clubs owned by Dempo Corporations. The logo includes the words "Goa" (the state where Dempo is located) and "Dempo Sports Club" (the team's name). It also features a golden bird in the middle.
The official colors of Dempo Sports Club are blue and white. Since the club started, their home jerseys have always been mainly blue. The shorts were either blue or black. Their away jerseys used to be all white. However, in 2011, Dempo introduced a new away kit with black stripes on the shirt, but the shorts stayed the same.
Before the 2020–21 football season, the "Golden Eagles" introduced new home and away jerseys. These jerseys showed support for health workers in Goa. The team proudly displayed the words "Thank You Goa's Covid Warriors" on their shirts.
Team Rivalries
Dempo has a big rivalry with another Goan team, Churchill Brothers. This is often called the "Goan Derby".
They also have rivalries with two other Goan clubs: Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar. They play against these teams in both the I-League and the Goa Professional League.
Home Grounds: Where Dempo Plays
Dempo SC uses the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao for its home matches. This stadium can hold 19,000 spectators.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium opened in 1989. Dempo SC has used it for most of its I-League matches and for international tournaments like the AFC Cup. During the 2012–13 I-League, Dempo also used Nagoa Ground in Mapusa and Tilak Maidan as home grounds. The Nagoa Ground got an astroturf field in 2012.
Training Facilities
Dempo used Sircaim and Sanquelim for training. The Sesa Football Academy Ground in Sircaim was used for pre-season training from 2014 to 2015.
Ella Academy Ground
In 2017, Dempo opened a large training complex called the Ella Academy in Old Goa. This ground is used as the home ground for both the senior and junior teams of the club.
Who Owns Dempo Sports Club?
Dempo Sports Club is owned and sponsored by Dempo Mining Corporation Limited. The Dempo Group has owned the club since it was created. Because of this sponsorship, the club is named Dempo Sports Club.
The club receives limited money, which means they focus on developing young local players. They spend less on expensive infrastructure or famous players.
Team Kit and Sponsors
The main sponsor for Dempo Sports Club is the Dempo Group itself. They have been the shirt sponsor since 2006. Different companies have made their kits over the years, including Nike and Adidas.
Players: Meet the Team
First-team squad
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Coaching Staff
The team has a CEO, a head coach, and a goalkeeping coach.
- CEO: Pradhyum Reddy (from Scotland)
- Head coach: Samir Naik (from India)
- Goalkeeping coach: Richard Sanchez (from India)
List of Managers
Dempo hired its first foreign coach, Robert "Bob" Bootland from Britain, in 1977. In 2000, Armando Colaco became the first professional manager. He stayed until 2013 and helped the club win five national league titles. In 2013, Arthur Papas from Australia and Greece became the manager.
| Name | Nationality | From | To | Honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyril Ferrao |  India |
1967 | 1971 | N/A |
| Joseph Rathnam | India |
1971 | 1977 | Rovers Cup (1975), Stafford Challenge Cup (1975), Goa Professional League (1972; 1974) |
| Robert "Bob" Bootland |  England |
1977 | 1981 | Rovers Cup (1978), Durand Cup (1983) |
| Amal Dutta | India |
1981 | 1982 | Goa Senior Division League (1981) |
| GMH Basha | India |
1982 | 1984 | N/A |
| Maqbool Hammed | India |
1984 | 1985 | Sher-I-Kashmir Cup (1984) |
| Kuppuswami Sampath | India |
1985 | 1989 | N/A |
| Alberto Joannes | India |
1989 | 1992 | Goa Senior Division League (1989) |
| Socorro Coutinho | India |
1992 | 1994 | Scissors Cup (1992; 1994) |
| Walter Ormeño |  Peru |
1994 | 1996 | N/A |
| Francisco Goncalves da Silva |  Brazil |
1996 | 1998 | N/A |
| T. K. Chathunni | India |
1998 | 1999 | N/A |
| Ahmad Sanjari |  Iran |
1999 | 2000 | N/A |
| Armando Colaco | India |
2000 | 2013 | I-League (2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12), Indian Super Cup (2008, 2010), Federation Cup (2004), Durand Cup (2006) |
| Arthur Papas |  Australia  Greece |
June 2013 | March 2015 | N/A |
| Trevor Morgan | England |
March 2015 | November 2015 | N/A |
| Mauricio Afonso | India |
November 2015 | July 2017 | N/A |
| Samir Subash Naik | India |
July 2017 | till date | Goa Professional League (2022–23) |
Famous Players
International Players
Some players who have played for Dempo SC have also played for their national teams. Here are a few:
Sergey Andreyev (2002–2003)
Densill Theobald (2011–2012)- Simon Colosimo (2013–2014)
Kasun Jayasuriya (2000–2001)- Channa Ediri Bandanage (2002–2003)
Beto Gonçalves (2010)
Zohib Islam Amiri (2014–2015)
Billy Mehmet (2013)
Johnny Menyongar (2013)
Carlos Hernández (2015)- Sunday Seah (2003–2004)
Upendra Man Singh (1999–2000)
Stephen Offei (2012)
Other Important Players
Ranti Martins (2004–2012) – He is Dempo's all-time top goal scorer with 146 goals in league matches.- Sunil Chhetri (2009–2010) – He is the top goal scorer for the India national team.
Partnerships with Other Clubs
Dempo SC has partnered with other football clubs:
FC Midtjylland (2011–2012)- FC Goa (2014–2016)
Dempo in Asian Competitions
Dempo has played in major Asian football tournaments:
- AFC Champions League: They played twice, reaching the play-off rounds in 2009 and 2011.
- AFC Cup: They played five times, reaching the semi-finals in 2008 and the Round of 16 in 2009 and 2011.
Club Records and Achievements
Overall Records
- Most goals by one player in an I-League match: 7 goals by Ranti Martins (Dempo vs Air India in 2010–11).
- Most goals by one player in an I-League season: 32 goals by Ranti Martins (2011–12).
- Biggest win in I-League: 14–0 (Dempo SC vs Air India in 2010–11).
- Most goals scored by a team in one I-League season: 63 goals in 26 matches (2010–11).
- Biggest win in an Asian tournament: 6–1 vs.
Merw FK (2006 AFC Cup). - Retired jersey number: 10 – for Cristiano Junior (honored after his death in 2004).
- Most successful team in the NFL/I-League: with 5 titles.
- Most wins in a single top-division league season in India: 18 wins in 2011–12 I-League.
- All-time leading goal scorer for Dempo SC: Ranti Martins (146 goals).
- I-League Golden Boot winner from Dempo: Ranti Martins (twice, in 2010–11 and 2011–12).
- All-time leading goal scorer for Dempo in Asian competitions: Ranti Martins (18 goals).
Awards
- IndianFootball.com Awards — Team of the Year: 2003
Big Wins Against Foreign Teams
Dempo has had some impressive wins against international clubs:
| Competition | Round | Year | Opposition | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 16 May 2006 | Merw FK |
6–1 | Fatorda Stadium |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 11 March 2008 |  Al Ansar |
3–1 | Fatorda Stadium |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 17 April 2008 |  Al Ansar |
2–1 | Bahrain National Stadium |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 14 May 2008 |  Sur |
5–2 | Fatorda Stadium |
| AFC Cup | Quarter-final | 29 September 2008 |  Home United |
4–3 | Jalan Besar Stadium |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 10 March 2009 |  Al Majd |
1–0 | Fatorda Stadium |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 19 May 2009 |  Al Faisaly |
3–1 | Fatorda Stadium |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | 1 March 2011 |  Al Tilal |
2–1 | Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex |
Honours and Trophies
Dempo is known as one of the most successful clubs in Indian football. They were the first Indian club to reach the Semi-Finals of the AFC Cup in 2008.
National League Titles
- NFL/I-League
- Champions (5): 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12
- Runners-up (1): 2003–04
- NFL II/I-League 2
- Champions (2): 2001–02, 2015–16
- Runners-up (1): 2023–24
- I-League 3
- Runners-up (1): 2023–24
- Goa Football League/Goa Professional League
- Champions (16): 1972, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1994, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2021–22, 2022–23
Cup Titles
- Federation Cup
- Champions (1): 2004
- Runners-up (5): 1996, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2014–15
- Indian Super Cup
- Champions (2): 2008, 2010
- Runners-up (3): 2005, 2007, 2009
- Durand Cup
- Champions (1): 2006
- Rovers Cup
- Champions (4): 1975, 1979, 1980, 1986
- Bordoloi Trophy
- Champions (2): 1982, 1983
- Nizam Gold Cup
- Champions (1): 1978
- Scissors Cup
- Champions (3): 1992, 1994, 1996
- Bandodkar Gold Trophy
- Champions (8): 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991
- Goa Police Cup
- Champions (1): 2005
- Stafford Challenge Cup
- Champions (2): 1975, 1979
Continental Achievements
- AFC Cup
- Semi-finals (1): 2008
Other Trophies
- Maldives International Cup
- Champions (1): 1991
- Sher-I-Kashmir Gold Cup
- Champions (1): 1985
- Jalil Cup (Varanasi)
- Champions (1): 1985
- Plaza Soccer Trophy
- Champions (1): 1975
- Taca Goa Championship
- Champions (3): 1977, 1979, 1990
- Four Square Trophy
- Champions (1): 1982
- Arlem Soccer Cup
- Champions (1): 1985
- AWES Cup
- Champions (1): 2017
- GFA Charity Cup
- Champions (2): 2021, 2023
Dempo Youth Academy
The Dempo SC Football Academy received a special "elite category" approval from the All India Football Federation in December 2023. The club's youth teams play in the Youth League of India.
See also
In Spanish: Dempo Sports Club para niños
- List of football clubs in Goa
- List of Goan State Football Champions
- Indian football clubs in Asian competitions
