Albino Gomes, a Goan football player in the Indian squad, along with other Goans at a reception hosted by the High Commission of India to the United Kingdom.
LONDON
It was a rare occasion as former Goan football stars got to interact with the Indian football team, which included a Goan in the squad, during a reception hosted by the High Commission of India to the United Kingdom on May 28.
The Indian men’s national football team (The Blue Tigers) was on tour in the UK to play for the four-nation Unity Cup 2026 tournament in London. Incidentally, this was the Indian football team’s first match on British soil since 2002.
The Unity Cup is an international football tournament held in London to celebrate AfroCentric and global diaspora communities and the 2026 fixtures involved Nigeria, Jamaica, Zimbabwe and India.
Among the players in the Indian squad included the Goan goalkeeper, Albino Gomes.
When contacted, Albino told The Goan that this was his first trip to the UK with the Indian football squad.
“My experience for playing in the football country, UK, was a dream come true. I experienced the differences in football pitches. It’s a footballer’s dream coming to the country, which is home for football,” said Albino.
“Whatever may be the results, this experience is something I will cherish,” said Albino.
Albino, who is a substitute goalkeeper in the Indian football team, plays for the Jamshedpur Football Club in India.
Albino Gomes, a Goan football player in the Indian squad, signs autographs for children at a reception hosted by the High Commission of India to the United Kingdom.
Incidentally, two other Goans selected for the squad, Brandon Fernandes and Liston Colaso, could not join the Indian for some reasons.
A group of young Goan football fans were delighted to meet Albino, who happily obliged them with autographs.
A number of members from the Goan community were invited to the HCI reception.
They included former Goan football stars like Jules Alberto, Gabriel Fernandes and Kevin Lobo now settled in the UK, who had previously played for teams like Salgaocar, Mahindra, Vasco, Dempo, and East Bengal. They were seen interacting with members of the Indian football team at the reception and the Indian football delegation was led by All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey.
Some other former Goan footballers who have also settled in the UK were, however, unable to attend due to work commitments.
Among the other Goan guests at the reception included Raoul de Souza (General Manager at Hilton London Bankside), Melville Rodrigues, Ravi Vaz (President of G.O.A. UK), Tomas Antonio Afonso (Tiatrist) and Pritam V Naik Gauncar (Vasco Goan Association).
In his welcome speech, the Deputy High Commissioner Kartik Pande stated that the growing public interest in football has motivated young Indians to follow the game with passion.
“Football has its unique way of bringing people together across borders. It creates friendships and build bridges across societies,” said Pande.
Deputy High Commissioner Kartik Pande along with the members of Goan community.
Describing the Indian football team as role models for the entire generation, Pande said it was nice to see some children excited to be at the reception.
Pande said the Indian community was proud of the players and supporting staff who have put in a lot of sacrifices, hard work and dedication that go into representing the country at the international level.
“Whether in victory or defeat, what matters most is the spirit to which the game is played, courage, team work and respect,” he added.
AIFF President Kalyan Caubey thanked the High Commissioner of India to the UK, and emphasised the importance of UK-Indian cooperation for football development.
With the recently Free Trade Agreement (FTA), he said this will benefit both nations and football which will be one of the factors behind the closer bilateral ties.
During the reception, Pande led the interaction session with India football captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Raul Bheke, which included questions from the gathering.
The team later presented the Deputy High Commissioner with a signed jersey of the national team.
Clayton Barreto, a Goan who serves as Social Secretary to the High Commissioner, at the High Commission of India in London, was instrumental in getting the former Goan footballers and Goan guests at the reception.
Acknowledging that the reception for the Indian football team at the HCI was more than just a sporting occasion, the guests appreciated Barreto, who has worked to strengthen the Goan presence across the UK, for bringing together Goans from different generations, professions, and backgrounds at the event.
