Back in Goa, Salgaocar Sports Club continued their dominance on the Goan scene. The Goan Football League had just turned Professional. Salgaocar SC won the inaugural Professional League in 1999 under the guidance of Shabir Ali, and then under former player now turned Coach Savio Medeira, added a hat trick of Goa League titles from 2002-03 till 2004-05 seasons. They also won the Goa Governors Cup twice, first in 1999-00 and then again in 2001-02.

After clinching their first Rovers Cup title in 1990, Salgaocar added another in 1996-97 in their third final appearance by getting the better of local Mumbai outfit Air India 1-0 thanks to a goal by Michael Gomes.

 The victorious Rovers Cup team

1996-97 also saw the AIFF introducing the National Football league for the first season. In the inaugural edition, Salgaocar Sports Club finished 7^th.

In 1997-98, Salgaocar added to their two triumphs in the Federation Cup by beating East Bengal 2-1 at Kolkotta in front of 120,000 fans. After Bruno Coutinho scored the first goal for Salgaocar, Samuel Omello restored parity for East Bengal to the delight of the 120,000 East Bengal supporters who thronged the stadium. With the game poised 1-1 at the end of regulation time, Bruno Coutinho scored a Golden Goal when his blistering shot found the back of the net following a great pass from Savio Medeira from the centre line. Back home in Goa, Salgaocar fans took to the street to celebrate the memorable triumph. Till today etched in the memory of many a fan is the ‘finger on the lips’ gesture that Bruno showed to the capacity crowd rooting for East Bengal.

 

Mr. Shivanand Salgaocar, President Salgaocar SC, and Mr. Dattaraj Salgaocar, Vice-President Salgaocar SC recieving the team at the Goa Airport after lifting the Federation Cup.

Federation Cup Hero Bruno Coutinho being felicitated by Salgaocar SC Vice- President Mr. Dattaraj Salgaocar. Also seen in the picture, Salgaocar SC President Mr. Shivanand Salgaocar along with his son Mr. Vivek Salgaocar.

Playing in the 1997-98 Super Cup against NFL winners Mohun Bagan, Salgaocar Sports Club emerged victorious by a 1-0 margin.

By virtue of winning the Federation Cup title, Salgaocar Sports Club represented India at the Asian Club Championships, Salgaocar had to battle it out with Chinese Champion side Beijing Guan in the first round two legged knock-out. In the first leg in Goa, Salgaocar emerged triumphs in front of a capacity home crowd by a 1-0 margin. However, back in China, Beijing proved to be tough opponents and got the better of Salgaocar by a 4-0 margin thus eliminating Salgaocar Sports Club from the tournament.

Despite being crowned Champion Club of India 3 times, it wasn’t time to rest. The just launched National League was missing from the cabinet. Under the guidance of talented coach Shabir Ali, and with a team that had class stamped all over it, Salgaocar Sports Club added the missing NFL trophy to the cabinet in 1998-99 much to the delight of their supporters.

The Victorious NFL Team

Shabir Ali Mondal celebrates the NFL truimph sitting atop Roque Pereira

 Salgaocar Fans await the arrival of their heroes at the Goa Airport after winning the National League.

1999-00 was a truly momentous season for Salgaocar Sports Club. Playing Churchill Brothers in the finals of the Rovers Cup on 15^th November 1999, they won by a solitary goal to inscribe their name on the title for the third time.  Just 10 days later, another memorable triumph. After getting the better of Mohun Bagan 2-0 in the semi-finals, Salgaocar Sports Club beat East Bengal 3-2 on tie-breakers to emerge Durand Cup Champions, the first Goan team to do so. They added a third title to their name when they got the better of Mohun Bagan 1-0 in the Super Cup. The team looked omnipotent as they continued to take Indian football by storm and thus earned the nickname ‘THE SOCCER KINGS’. Salgaocar Sports Club thus became the first Goan Club to win every major trophy in India.

Current Club Secretary Mr. R.A.J. Gomes garlanding a player on his arrival after lifting the Rovers Cup in 1999

The Victorious Motorcade aboard a 'Camihao' (Old Portugueses buses that used to ply during the Portuguese era) after clinching 3 major titles in a shot span of time

In 2000-01, Salgaocar SC continued with their domination when they lifted the Pondicherry Millennium Tournament beating other top teams from across India.

In 2002-03, Salgaocar SC came close to lifting their second NFL title, but finished a close second to East Bengal.

In 2003-04, Salgaocar SC lifted the Durand Cup for a second time when they got the better of East Bengal 4-3 in tie-breakers after regulation time saw a 1-1 draw.

But after all the highs, came a low, a low that left many fans in total disbelief. A disastrous NFL campaign in 2005-06 saw Salgaocar SC get relegated to the Second Division NFL, the glory days seemed far far away.

But commitment and determination against all odds have always been the forte of the club. The adage goes,”What maketh a man isn’t how he falls, but the grace by which he rises up again.” Down a division, Salgaocar came back strongly to cap an unbeaten record to win the Second Division NFL and win their place back amongst the elite of Indian Football.