Panaji: Former Salgokar Sports Club striker and Santosh Trophy star Zacharias Fernandes (78) passed away. He died due to old age related ailments.
Bandhodkar scored a hat-trick in just six minutes for Salgaokar against the Bombay Goans in the Gold Trophy tournament that Goa hosted for the first time in 1970. Salgokar won 6-0 that day thanks to Zakaria’s excellence. Jalandhar-based Leaders Club won the final, but Zakaria’s performance as he led Salgaokar throughout the tournament drew a lot of attention. Salgokar won with Zakaria’s goals against Punjab Police in the quarter and Dempo Sports Club in the semi. He was one of the best strikers Goan football has ever seen.
Zacharias Fernandes spent the early days of his career in Kerala as his family came to Kerala for business purposes. It started with Kannur Lucky Star. Later, in 1965, he accepted Salgaokar’s offer and joined the club. Not only did he find a place for himself in the team of the day, which was filled with legends like Ainsao Kuttinyu, Vasu Raiturkar, Alisab Sadekar and Manuel, he also commanded the respect of his experienced teammates.
It was Zakaria’s goal that lifted Salgokar to victory in the 1969 Rovers Cup. Zakaria was also the top scorer in the Goa Senior Division League in the 1965–66 season with 17 goals in 18 matches. He was also a member of the Govan Santosh Trophy team from 1967 to 1969.