Left to Right – Beevan D’Mello and Shallum Pires
Forward Beevan D’Mello, currently the club’s longest-serving player was recently named club captain for the Selvel Goa Professional League, with defender Shallum Pires being named Vice-Captain.
In this extraordinary season, the Eagles will compete in a total of 11 rounds, as the league will only be played on a single leg basis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a season where the league comprises 12 teams and 11 rounds, every game is in itself a cup final and with the Eagles fielding a relatively younger side for the current season, the team will need to have big personalities in the dressing room, to guide the younger players, both on and off the field.
Speaking on being handed the armband and his role as a mentor to the younger players, the forward stated, “It feels amazing, It is indeed a huge motivation for me, as well as an added responsibility. With regards to the younger boys joining us, It is very important to motivate them and keep everyone together in the dressing room. We, seniors, talk a lot with them and try to get them as involved in the training sessions as possible. I’m happy to share this responsibility with Shalum, with who I have been mates for more than half a decade. ”
Having playing experience with the likes of Sporting Clube de Goa, Vasco SC & Salgaocar FC, Beevan knows the importance of maintaining a positive atmosphere in the dressing room and the difference it makes during the course of the season, speaking about the importance of it all, the Salcete native added, “The team has many players and not all of them can play at the same time. So it’s very important to try to maintain a positive atmosphere and to keep everyone happy. When everyone is happy and has a good positive mindset, it makes it that much easier for the team, to achieve our collective goal”
With Head Coach, Samir Naik, having worn the Dempo & National Team armband during his professional career, Beevan will not have to search far away to understand his new role and can always count on the former Dempo defender for advice and guidance, “Samir Naik was a top player not only for Dempo but also for our National Team. Now that he has chosen me to captain the team this year, it is an honor and at the same time a huge responsibility, I will try and be as successful as he was with the team and aim to win the Goa Professional League this season”, said the forward.
The Eagles are scheduled to play Guardian Angel SC on 06th February 2021, in their second-round match of the Selvel Goa Professional League.
