Baptist Fernandes

He was the darling of his teammates and always played with an infectious smile; but more than anything else, Baptist Fernandes was a rare one-club man who started and ended his professional career at Dempo where he is revered. He was blessed with talent like no other. He showed great abilities right from the time he was vice captain of the Goa Schools team that won the 1978 National School Games football championship in Srinagar. He was voted the best player for his nine goals that helped Goa emerge junior national champions in 1980. Fernandes brought flair to the Dempo attack and scored some spectacular goals, nothing more important than his brace against Mohun Bagan in the 1986 Rovers Cup final.