The first thing that catches your eye during an early morning training session of Churchill Brothers FC is the high number of Goan players.




‘Goenkar’, or Goan in konkani, the local language, on the back of the jerseys is also hard to miss.




Of the 21 players who were being put through their paces by coach Dimitris Dimitriou at the Utorda ground, ten were Goans. Seven of them -- Richard Costa, Stendly Fernandes, Kingslee Fernandes, Trijoy Dias, Vincy Barreto and Dattaraj Gaonkar – are officially part of the squad, while three others are on trials. At least two of them, including a youngster who spent some time training in Portugal, are likely to get the nod.




“Our philosophy is to promote Goan talent,” Dimitriou told TOI at the end of the training session. “We have also brought in good Indian players, besides quality foreigners. We have tried to build a good, competitive team, good enough to match the best (in the Indian Super League ).”




Churchill are preparing for their much-awaited ISL debut , and it’s fitting that Dimitriou will be at the helm.




The Cypriot coach who guided the team well in 2024-25, a season when Churchill came within a win of making it to the top tier of Indian football. The CAS verdict, their travails, the long battle has all been well documented, and Dimitriou is just “happy and very pleased” that the Goan team will finally make its much-awaited ISL debut.




“At the end of the day, truth has prevailed. The family of Churchill Alemao , Valanka Alemao, fought all along for the club to be in the ISL. I am blessed, privileged to be coaching the team as it marks its first presence in the ISL.”




While the presence of Goan players, besides experienced ISL campaigners like Gaurav Bora and Melroy Assisi, is unmissable at Utorda, the absence of foreigners is hard to ignore. Dimitriou said the foreigners will join later this week and add to the team’s strengths. “We will be ready for the first match,” he emphasised




According to club sources, Colombian attacking midfielder Sebastian Gutierrez and South Africa forward Wayde Lekay have already obtained their visas and will be among the first to join in the next couple of days. It shouldn’t be long before Burkina Faso midfielder Dramane Salou also arrives in Goa.




The excitement around Churchill’s ISL debut is hardly surprising. Alemao, a former chief minister whose love for football is stuff of legend, has always wanted to rub shoulders with the nation’s best, like the good old days when his club won the I-League twice and were crowned national champions.




“The club has a winning mentality, you can see it from the history of the club. It comes from our boss, Churchill Alemao. We understand ISL is the highest level of football in India. There will be very good players, very good coaches, but we are ready.




“I am certain we will be backed by Goans, since it’s their own club. We expect, for every game, a minimum of 8,000-10,000 fans behind us. It’s going to be exciting for everyone. This is my third consecutive year in Indian football. I’ve been at TRAU and Gokulam Kerala, but it’s here at Churchill Brothers that I feel at home,” said Dimitriou.