The Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) will organise its third annual get-together which will see former players, officials, administrators and media come under one roof and relive the glory days.

For the last two years, former sportspersons have been gathering once every year to meet their teammates and compatriots with whom they share wonderful memories.

In 2017, only former footballers gathered under one roof at Goa Velha for the first-ever get-together, but since last year when everyone met at Agasaim, players and officials from different sports disciplines met and exchanged memories.

The third get-together, the only such initiative and gathering in the state, will be held at the BPS Sports Club in Margao on April 14, 11am onwards.

“It’s always nice to see our former greats come together. This time are expecting even bigger attendance,” said AWES president Avertano Furtado.

At the get-together, will also felicitate the Goan teams who won the National Football Championship for the first time as joint winners in 1983 and then outright for the first time in 1984.

Most players who were part of those two Santosh Trophy winning teams will attend the felicitation function.

“The Santosh Trophy is a tournament that remains close to the heart of all Goan football fans. I remember how proud we all felt when Goa won the Santosh Trophy for the first time. It’s time for us to honour our heroes,” said Furtado.

Goa finished joint winners alongside hosts Bengal in 1983 when two days of football could not produce a winner. Packed with internationals, Bengal were the favourites playing at home, but Goa measured up to the challenge to force a famous draw.

The next year, Goa won the Santosh Trophy outright for the first time as Camilo Gonsalves scored the goal that gave Goa the trophy against Punjab in Madras.

Both teams were captained by Brahmanand Shankhwalkar.

(AWES)