The way Dempo Sports Club kept dropping points in the home stretch one would have thought that an upset was quite on the cards. But the Panaji 'blues' decided to finish with a flourish-- a 4-1 rout of Viva Kerala away -- to win the inaugural I-League title and also equal the Mohun Bagan and East Bengal tally of three NFL wins each overall.
The Dempo victory is a feather in the cap for Armando Colaco, who hauled himself out of his sick bed in defiance of doctor's orders and flew to Kozhikode to oversee the result.
- Bagan hold Mahindra United goalless
He is the first coach to win the NFL thrice, one more than the 'double' earned by Subrata Bhattacharjee (Mohun Bagan) and Subhas Bhowmick (East Bengal). Incidentally, no foreign coach has won the NFL ever in 12 editions.
Dempo's victory was widely predicted by all and sundry before the start of the league and it looked like they were running away to the finish line after opening up a healthy gap between their nearest chasers, JCT and Churchill Brothers, who finished a creditable second on same points (36) but with an inferion goal difference.
That they stuttered a bit in the closing stages while others played catch up, can be put down to the glorious inconsistencies of the beautiful game.
Under the phlegmatic and low key Colaco, Dempo have evolved into a fine side who are able to produce an aesthetic brand of soccer which has pleased the connoisseurs -- among whom have been rival I-League coaches and national coach Bob Houghton himself.
It has helped that Colaco has been able to retain the nucleus of his bunch over the last few years. For the 2007-08 season Dempo were even able to strengthen their side by luring to their ranks ace stopper back Mahesh Gawli (from Mahindra United) and Chidi Edeh (JCT).
The Nigerian striker (8 goals) was not at his best in the tournament, and neither was his countryman and captain Ranty Martins (12) as compared to the prolific Odafa Onyeka Okolie (22). But in the ultimate analysis they did just about enough to see their side home.
It was solid team work and some outstanding individual performances that propelled Dempo to victory. Those who stood out were right wing back Valeriano Rebello in the defense, which conceded the least goals (13) among all teams, not forgetting the ever vigilant Gawli.
In the midfield Climax Lawrence and Beto were outstanding, the Brazilian recovering from a viral infection in the second leg to keep the team chugging. Nicolau Borges too played well initially on the left-wing as a replacement for the injured international Clifford Miranda while Anthony Pereira was a revelation on the right.
Dempo also did not bother to hire their fourth foreigner, as most teams did. In the end, they did not need the extra man.
The 1-2 finishes for Dempo and Churchill Brothers as compared to the 4/6 endings for the Kolkata giants, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal respectively, highlights the fact that the football sun now rises in the West rather than the East. Indeed, it does.
Viva Dempo, Viva Goa!