Panaji: Ethan Goes is set to realise his dream of playing professional football in Europe.
Son of former Dempo SC footballer and Vasco SC coach, Elvis Goes, Ethan has spent the last 12 years honing his skills in Portugal and has now moved to the Primera Divisio (premier division) of Andorra with FC Ordino.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has flexible options of dual citizenship of EU (Portugal) and United States, where he was born.He spent six years in Goa, training with the Brasil Futebol Academia – run by Brazilian footballers Beto and Jose Barreto – before his father decided it was best to pack their bags to Portugal.
“In 2012, we moved to Portugal, and part of the move was to give him an opportunity to play professionally in Europe,” Elvis told TOI on Sunday. “When he was in India, I did not see the scope for him to get all the training that is needed to become a footballer. Since moving to Portugal, he has been playing for different clubs, trialling, and this season he succeeded with FC Ordino (in Andorra).”
Ethan was born in the United States and moved to Goa – where his parents were born and brought up – when he was five. For the next six years, he trained in Goa with BFA and then in Bengaluru, where he was enrolled at the Indus International School. For his father, a professional coach, it quickly became evident that his training had to be outside the country.
In Portugal, Ethan started with the district leagues, as he represented clubs like Athletico Clube de Porto Salvo (Junior U19 1st Division Dist), Grupo Desportivo Aboboda (Portugal Senior 2nd Division), AFD Torre, Cascais (Portugal Senior 2nd Division Dist) and CD Olivias e Moscavid (Senior 1st Division District).
Last season, he moved to Associacao Academica de Coimbra in the third tier of Portuguese football and was “offered a decent opportunity to play with the professional club.” He started with the reserves, playing every game as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder and even a central defender.
“The Portugal football market is very strong, hard to break in, since they track kids right from age seven. For someone who is an outsider to the system, it’s not easy,” said Elvis, who runs the International Football Academy de Portugal (IFAPT).
The IPFAPT has trainees from across the world and they are provided opportunities to explore smaller European football markets like Cyprus, Malta, Romania and Andorra.
“When Ethan trialled in Andorra, they liked him. It’s a good start. By being a professional footballer, other avenues will open up,” said Elvis.
Incidentally, two Inter Kashi FC players, Sachu Siby and Harmanpreet Singh, have signed for Inter Escalades in Andorra. Kabir Nath, a 24-year-old midfielder from Assam, will also ply his trade there, after completing a move to FS La Massana.