FC Goa honours outstanding performers at Awards Night 2024-25

FC Goa honours outstanding performers at Awards Night 2024-25

FC Goa honours outstanding performers at Awards Night 2024-25

April 24, 2025 – Goa, India: FC Goa celebrated the best of the 2024-25 season at a glittering Awards Night held on Tuesday.

The evening was one of recognition, reflection, and revelry as players and staff across the Club’s senior and youth teams were felicitated for their exceptional performances, commitment, and embodiment of the Gaur spirit.

The highlight of the night was the announcement of the FC Goa Club Player of the Season 2024-25, awarded to Indian international Sandesh Jhingan. The commanding centre-back led from the front with an imperious defensive record – clocking 1739 minutes in 20 matches, and registering 85% passing accuracy, 64 duels won, 107 clearances, and a goal to cap off a season of true leadership.

Brison Fernandes emerged as the undisputed star among the Gaurs, sweeping multiple honours. The midfielder won the Fans’ Player of the Season, the Players’ Player of the Season, and the Club Young Player of the Season awards. With 7 goals, 2 assists and the title of ISL Emerging Player of the Season, Brison’s impact was felt in every third of the pitch, and he was duly celebrated by fans and teammates alike.

A landmark moment in the evening came with the presentation of the first-ever Coro Medal, introduced this season in honour of Ferran Corominas, one of the greatest forwards to ever don the FC Goa jersey.

The Coro Medal, named after the Club’s all-time top scorer, is the first award instituted by FC Goa to be named after a player, commemorating legacy and excellence in front of goal. This year’s recipient was Iker Guarrotxena, whose return to the Club proved magical. With 10 goals and 3 assists in 22 matches, Iker was instrumental to the Gaurs’ attacking prowess. The award was announced by Coro himself via a heartfelt video message, marking a symbolic passing of the torch.

One of the most touching moments of the night was the presentation of the FC Goa Lucas Cardozo Memorial Award, instituted in memory of Lucas Cardozo – a beloved former colleague who served the Club for six years before his passing earlier this year. The inaugural award, recognising exemplary service to the Club, went to Chandan Kundaikar, the Kit and Equipment Manager who has been a part of the FC Goa family since 2018.

In line with the Club’s philosophy of development, respect, and unity, the youth team awards – selected through team-wide polls – highlighted values beyond stats. The winners were:

U13 Player of the Season: Kurtson Menezes
U15 Player of the Season: Crossley Dias
U17 Player of the Season: Sangam Shetye
Development Team Player of the Season: Sitroy Carvalho

Each of them was chosen for demonstrating discipline, kindness, hard work, and commitment to the team ethos.

A special honour – the Youth Pathway Award – was presented to Prachit Gaonkar, who became the first FC Goa player and only the second in ISL history to rise through every rung of the Club’s youth ladder (U13, U15, U17, U19, Dev Team) and make his debut in the ISL this season.

The FC Goa Gaur Spirit Award was awarded to the Club’s Medical Team, whose tireless work saw five players successfully return from ACL injuries and several others recover from short-term setbacks, playing a pivotal role in the team’s campaign.

Hrithik Tiwari was honoured with the Breakthrough Season Award for his grit and perseverance. From waiting in the wings to becoming a mainstay between the sticks, Hrithik made 23 appearances, kept 8 clean sheets, and made 52 saves – including a decisive penalty stop against Odisha FC that helped secure three crucial points.

The Iron Man Award went to Boris Singh, whose relentless energy and consistency saw him clock 2192 minutes across competitions – more than any other FC Goa player. Boris featured in 25 of 26 ISL matches, starting each one and scoring a memorable winner against Kerala Blasters.

Meanwhile, Borja Herrera won Goal of the Season for his stunning strike in the second leg of the ISL 2024-25 semi-finals against Bengaluru FC that captured the imagination of the fans and added to a season tally of 48 goals from 13 different players.

The Awards Night was not just a celebration of statistics and silverware but of the values and people that make FC Goa what it is. From players to backroom staff, each award symbolised dedication, unity, and belief in the Club’s vision – a night to remember, and a standard to build upon.
Full List of Award Winners – FC Goa Awards Night 2024-25
U13 Player of the Season: Kurtson Menezes
U15 Player of the Season: Crossley Dias
U17 Player of the Season: Sangam Shetye
Development Team Player of the Season: Sitroy Carvalho
Youth Pathway Award: Prachit Gaonkar
Gaur Spirit Award: FC Goa Medical Team
Lucas Cardozo Memorial Award: Chandan Kundaikar
Breakthrough Season Award: Hrithik Tiwari
Iron Man Award: Boris Singh
Goal of the Season: Borja Herrera
Coro Medal (Top Goal-scorer): Iker Guarrotxena
Fans’ Player of the Season: Brison Fernandes
Players’ Player of the Season: Brison Fernandes
Club Young Player of the Season: Brison Fernandes
Club Player of the Season: Sandesh Jhingan
About FC Goa
FC Goa are a professional football club based out of Goa that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL). Founded on August 26, 2014, “the Gaurs” have been one of the most consistently successful teams in the ISL – reaching 6 semi-finals and 2 finals in 11 seasons.

The Club also hold the record for the most goals, joint-most golden boots and most number of playoff appearances (8 in total) in the history of the league.

In 2020, FC Goa became the first team from India to qualify for the league stages of the AFC Champions League, by virtue of winning the first-ever ISL League Winners Shield in the 2019-20 season. The Gaurs’ trophy cabinet is further adorned by the 2019 Super Cup, the 2021 Durand Cup and the 2023-24 Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy.

Co-owned by Mr. Jaydev Mody, Mr. Akshay Tandon and Mr. Virat Kohli, FC Goa are one of the few Indian clubs to have a complete youth development ecosystem. Its U13, U15, U17, U19 and Developmental Teams compete at the highest levels in Goa and India.

The FC Goa Development Team won the Goa Professional League, the top-division football league in the state, in 2018-19. In 2020, they lifted the Goa Police Cup as well. The Club’s U13 and U15 teams, meanwhile, are the reigning champions of their respective age categories in the Goa Football Association (GFA) state league for the second consecutive year now, highlighting their continued success at every level.