Osvaldo keeps the faith

NEW DELHI, October 4: Osvaldo Da Costa's tryst with football can be described as a tale of accidents. If it started 'accidentally', it ended too with an 'accidental blow'.
Osvaldo was in seventh grade and his link with football, just like any other Goan kid, was limited to after-school street games. "One day our school (Father Agnel boarding school, Pilar) football team's goalkeeper got injured.And I being the tallest of all the students present was thrown in to stand guard," says Osvaldo, who is in the Capital as coach of the Rosary High School (Goa), who are facing the favourites NCC (North Eastern Region) in the Subroto Cup semifinal on Friday.
That evening changed Osvaldo's life - he could not leave the goalpost. After hanging up his boots in 1996, he decided to groom talented kids. This C-license holding coach even tutored current India stars Climax Lawrence and Alvito D' Cunha when the two played in the U-19 Goa league. "Climax was always the quieter one. He is being suitably rewarded for all the hard work he put in those days," the proud teacher says.
Starting his professional career with the third division side Dempo Engineering FC in 1983, the lanky goalkeeper went on to guide his side to senior division within next four years. In between came the gold for Goa in University Games and finishing runners-up to West Bengal in BC Roy Trophy. But keeping the nets against Dempo FC was a different experience altogether.
"Beating the then league champions in the very first meeting itself was special. We won 3-1," he reminisces.
43-year-old Osvaldo also got the chance to be a part of Dempo FC for a season and saw the end of his career at Salcete FC. He ironically played his last match against Dempo FC -- a match where he hurt his back and that was it. The journey which began with a name - Dempo - also ended with it. Life has this strange habit of coming full circle.
Today's match is an acid test for Osvaldo. The coach is hoping that his team, "strong on basics", can upset the more fancied rivals from North East.
Sikkim boys on a rampage
It was another goal-fest in the Subroto Cup when Namchi Sports Hostel, Sikkim crushed Sri Vyas Bal Mandir, Neemuch, MP 13-0 in their sub-junior clash on Thursday.