FC Goa v Odisha FC, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa, India

6 Feb 25

FC Goa v Odisha FC

Indian Super League

Fatorda Stadium

Margao, Goa, India

The Indian Super League is contested by 13 clubs with the top placed team becoming the ISL Winner at the end of the season. There is also a Cup competition featuring the top 6 clubs in a Play Off to determine the ISL Cup Winner. Currently FC Goa is sitting in second place on 39 Pts behind Mohun Bagan Super Giant from Kolkata in West Bengal on 49.

Tickets for the match against Odisha FC from Bhubaneshwar were available online on the District App but it required an Indian Sim card. In the end we went to the box office before the game to guarantee entrance

The Fatorda stadium is officially known as the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and is the home of FC Goa. Established in 1989 it was one of the 6 host venues of the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup in India. The stadium has also hosted the most ISL Cup finals, including the 2014-15, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

The stadium in Margao is now used solely for football, although it has hosted international cricket matches before. It hosted 9 ODIs from 1989, including an ODI between England and India in 2006. Its last ODI was in 2010 against Australia but it was abandoned due to rain.

Attendance: 9,479

Day 1: Arrival and Beach acquaint. I arrived in Goa City (GOI) on 3 Feb on an Air India Express  flight from Mumbai 

The Sheff boys had taken the 2 remaining taxis so I had to settle for a 2 wheels. Only 25-30 Km  

The way to travel

It is a serious offence if you hit a cow in India!

Thankfully my rider was very experienced and I arrived at the hotel in good order

Golden Tulip, Candolim Beach, Goa

Heading to Candolim Beach to meet Lamby and Mark

First visit to the beach

First beer on the beach at String Fellos 

Candolim Beach at night

Day 2: Beach Day. The view from the hotel balcony

Beer on the beach at String Fellos

Catching the sunset

String Fellos Beach Shack

Day 3: Aguada Fort and Jail Museum. The fort was built in the 17th century by the Portuguese, and the lower part of the fort became a prison in 1930's where many Goan freedom fighters were incarcerated. It was the largest prison in Goa up until 2015. Now it is a memorial for the struggle against the Portuguese rulers who left in 1961

Memorial to the struggle for independence from the Portuguese 

Entering the Port and Jail complex of Fort Aguada

The fortifications and cannons of the port and jail area

The view from the battlements

Inside one of the prison blocks there is an exhibition for the stray dogs of Goa entitled 'Rain Dogs', all the photos were taken during the monsoon season by the contemporary photographer, Rohit Chawla

The new lighthouse was built closer to the cliff and is known as the Aguada Lighthouse and DGPS. I climbed it to take pictures of the fort and old lighthouse

Aguada Fort is the best preserved Portuguese Fort in India. It was named after the fresh supply of spring water that gave the fort a constant supply of potable water

Video of the Upper Fort from the new lighthouse

The original lighthouse was in built in 1864 and is located within the walls of the fort. It claims to be the oldest of its kind in Asia, once using oil lamps to emit light every 7 minutes. 

Walking to the pub with my sacred cow

Charlie finds us the cheapest bar in Goa (Viva Bar). This is the view from that said establishment

On my walk home to the Golden Tulip I successfully pass through the dog patrol without seeing any teeth

Day 4: FC Goa v Odisha FC. First stop is breakfast at the Juice Centre at Pintos Vadoo opposite Libton Manor

Fish Thali and Masala Chai

Dr Gustavo Monteiro Stadium, Candolim, Goa

A beach kiosk selling Pani Puri, my 'fave' Mumbai street food

Candolim Beach in the heat of the day 🌞

Now it's football 

After a 45 minute taxi ride from Candolim we arrive at Fatorda Stadium in Madgaon. Only to discover that we can't buy tickets at the entrance gates  

Not to worry there is a Box Office located at the Fatorda Indoor Sports Complex about 600m from the ground

For 450 Rupees we gain entrance to the Upper East block

First sight of the stadium heading towards gate 8

Entering gate 8, destination East Upper

Security almost cracked, we are going to make the KO

The stars of FC Goa

A lively inner perimeter selling food, drinks and club merchandise

Lamby has been zapping the place with Lamby Tours stickers

The view from the Upper East Block

View from the South Stand to the Away end

The East Lower Army and the FC Goa Fan Club

Me, Paul Harrison and Lamby

Odisha FC penalty miss

The band marching through

Half Time 

Me and the East Lower Army 

Jump around !

Back to Angaara Sports Bar in Candolim for S.O.B and medals

Day 5: Old Goa

Morning walk

Pav Bhaji at OM Pure Veg on Candolim Beach Road

The Holy Man predicts a bright future for Big Steve

In the afternoon I took a taxi to Old Goa the former Portuguese capital of Goa. This is the Church of St Francis of Assisi built in 1661 after being established by 8 Franciscan friars in 1517 

The Se Cathedral is de Santa Catarina (1640)  is the seat of the Patriarch of the East Indies

It has a permanent exhibition and museum but sadly that was closed during my visit

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is the most famous of the numerous churches in Old Goa. Work began in 1594 and it was consecrated in 1605  

The mortal remains of St Francis Xavier are located within the walls and the church itself is considered one of the 7 wonders of Portuguese Origin in the world

The ruins of the Church of St Augustine

In 1835 the Augustinians were expelled from Goa and as a result the church was abandoned. In 1846 the main vault collapsed and the convent decayed. All that is left now is the belfry tower which once rose 150 ft high

Back on Candolim Beach for sunset

Team Photo - Me, Big Tony, Richard (Arsenal), Guest, Lamby, Tubes, Gareth (Sheff), Matt (Sheff), Mark (Sheff), Eagle (Sheff) and Richard H (Arsenal)

Tubes and Bar Manager at String Fellos

Beach Shack Bar life

Day 6: Last day in India. Pool view from balcony

Paul G (Sheff Utd) chilling by the pool 

The multi purpose jewellers, massage parlour and bar

Rickshaw

Final meal in India - Hong Kong Noodles

Waiting at Candolim Deck Bar for my taxi to the airport