At Sporting Clube, my dream is to complete what my father started: Diogo Vaz

Peter Vaz built Sporting Clube de Goa from scratch and took the club to the doorstep of the national league and Federation Cup titles, falling short at the final hurdle. His death in Dec 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic put a huge question mark on the club’s future, but his family, particularly son Diogo, has ensured that the legacy is carried forward. Sporting Clube are now aiming to get back among the elite of Indian football and look determined to qualify for the I-League this season. In its 25th year since inception, club director Diogo Nathan Vaz explains the way forward in an interview with TOI. Excerpts…
While running the club, how tough has it been for you to follow in the footsteps of your father?
It’s a privilege, but also a great responsibility. My father set incredibly high standards and built this club with a single-minded focus. Filling those shoes is never easy. While I share his ambition and passion for the game, I also believe in modernising and adapting to the evolving football landscape. I’ve always admired his ability to get things done. He built this club for the people of Goa, and I want to continue that legacy, ensuring that we remain a force in Indian football while evolving with the times. We need to stay true to the club’s legacy while steering it towards a sustainable and progressive future. We are serious about our football project and are investing in modern ideas with a winning mentality.
In the way the club is run and managed, what are the changes that you have introduced, or would want to implement in the future?
Football has evolved significantly, and so must Sporting Clube. While we remain true to our core philosophy of developing Goan talent, we are also embracing modern techniques. Data analytics, school adoptions, stakeholder engagement, scientific training, and sports science are areas I have actively pushed for. Recruitment is another aspect we are refining. We want to identify and invest in players who fit the club’s DNA, both technically and mentally. We are also working on strengthening our commercial partnerships and digital presence, two areas modern football clubs cannot afford to overlook.
Sporting Clube is now attempting to get back into the I-League. How tough would it be for the club in the second division I-League, given that you have to rely entirely on domestic players?
Last year was a learning curve for us. We made it to I-League 2 but fell short of making it to I-League. That experience, however, was invaluable. This year, we’ve approached things differently. One of the key decisions we made was bringing in Savio Medeira as our technical director. His experience, knowledge of Indian football, and ability to shape a structured footballing philosophy have already had a positive impact. Alongside him, the hard work and dedication of the entire team—led by Sir Armando Colaco and Climax Lawrence—have been instrumental. You can see the results in the Goa Pro League, where we remain unbeaten after 12 games. I-League 2 is extremely competitive, but our squad is now better balanced.
This is the 25th year since Sporting Clube was formed. While the club has been among the top teams during their time in the National Football League and I-League, titles have remained elusive. What goals have you set for yourself?
My dream is to complete what my father started. Sporting Clube came agonizingly close on multiple occasions to winning India’s top-tier league and the Federation Cup. That remains unfinished business, and it’s a dream I am determined to fulfil. Beyond silverware, I dream of giving the club a home of its own, a world-class facility where our players can train, develop, and grow. While it may be too early to speak about it in concrete terms, every great achievement starts as a dream. And our dream is slowly turning into a plan. My father built this club for Goa, and I want to take that vision forward, creating a sustainable footballing institution that nurtures talent, competes at the highest level, and brings glory to the state.
What does the club mean to you, and how do you plan to take your father’s legacy forward?
Sporting Clube de Goa and I have grown together. As a child, I watched my father build this club from the ground up, and as I grew, so did Sporting. I have seen it all; the highs of competing at the top, the heartbreak of falling short, the relentless fight to stay relevant in Indian football. This club isn’t just something I inherited; it’s something I have lived. This club means everything to me. My father wanted Sporting Clube to be the pride of Goan football, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that dream stays alive.