Interview with Godwin Franco (Dempo SC)

Dempo SC midfielder Godwin Franco was back in Cologne, Germany in the summer over the season break to meet friends, train in the off-season and I spoke to him a couple of days ago before his return to Goa about his experiences, we took a look at the new season and more...


Good to see you back here in Germany! How were the experiences here in Cologne being back for a second time?

Germany is a very nice place and I've got many friends here, I visited them again and had a good time. Besides that I have been training here with a team (Borussia Lindenthal). What I love about the place is that Germany is a powerhouse of world football, their football is very organised, very efficient right from the grassroot levels and all their leagues - professional and amateur. It has been a fantastic experience!

This time I also visited Sweden (visiting Player of Indian Origin & former Sporting Clube de Goa player Nicolas Nath) and I also got to train there at IF Hammerby. Another great experience. Football in Europe is simply massive!


You not only trained here, but also saw Euro2012 action while being here in Germany. How was the experience to watch the matches in public viewing on the streets with so many people?

The people have absolute passion for football! They love the game, they love their country no matter what and even when they lost, they were disappointed but they were always positive about the future. Neither where they very critical about their country, the players, the coach Joachim Löw.

Knowing that Germany is a powerhouse of world football, a country that has won won the Euros a number of times and numerous World Cups, it has been an insane experience for me. Crazy atmosphere. Everyone just loves their football here!


You've now seen training here in Germany, last year and this year too; you now go back to Goa to the champions of India Dempo SC. What do you take back from what you have seen here?

It is a huge advantage to me when I train here because number one I am keeping myself fit in the off-season and secondly I am training with good clubs, good players. There are great facilities here and once I go back I am in a good condition to rejoin training. Dempo is one of the best teams in India which has good facilities and everything is upto the mark, so once I get back, I get back into the groove without any hassle.


You will have seen the new squad composition at Dempo's, not too many changes but you lose a striker of the quality of Ranty Martins Soleye, you have someone in like Ryuji Sueoka coming in, a lot of new youngsters coming from other clubs and the Dempo Under-20 team. How do you see Dempo's season ahead?

That's always a philosophy of Dempo's, always to keep the core of the team which is there this year as well. Ranty has gone, they got in Sueoka. Just like last year when Beto went and got Densill Theobald in. The coach (Armando Colaco) is very good at getting the best out of what he has and he has always succeeded in this over the years. Now we have a new foreign striker in Sueoka and Koko Sakibo stays back to partner him. Sueoka no doubt has won the I-league with Salgaocar, was one of their crucial players, he is an established player in India, so we are looking forward to having him in our team. I'm sure he is going to do well for us.

And the youngsters have come in because we are looking towards the future as a club and that is what they have done over the years. They have always maintained the core and from the time of Valeriano Rebello brought in youngsters. It is the same cycle that is being carried on.

We look forward to the new season with enthusiasm!


One last but somewhat critical question. 37 probables have been named for Team India ahead of the Nehru Cup. Though you had a very good season last year, your name does not figure in that 37. Disappointed?

It is not that I am not disappointed, but it is always what the coach wants. I will keep working hard, I will keep trying this season as well. And by the Grace of God definitely I will continue to try my best and get into the national team.

The coach (Wim Koevermans) is new and will surely have a look at I-League players in the new season, the door is always open at various points of the season. I am always optimistic and I have no hard feelings because at the end of the day it is the coaches choice.

I wish Team India all the best!


Thanks for talking to me and hope to see you back here in Germany soon!

Thank you too!


Here a video interview which I carried out with Godwin a few weeks ago: VIDEO: Interview with Godwin Franco (Dempo SC)