Samir Naik, longtime Dempo SC veteran has decided to hang up his boots after 19 years with the Goan outfit.
Samir Naik was born in Arpora, Goa on 8th August 1979. He had an interest in football since his school days. He began his youth footballing career at Siolim in 1998 and played for Siolim till 1999, after which he was selected for Dempo Sports Club. His career started with the junior team and made his way up to the senior team at Dempo SC.
Samir Naik plied his trade as a defender. His biggest strength was that he could playAwing-back on both sides a right and left with the ability to push forward and feed the attacking wingers and strikers. Within a span of 3 years, Samir’s good showing with Dempo earned him a Indian national team call-up.
Naik made his debut for the Indian team on 29 August 2002 in an International friendly against Jamaica, in a game that India lost 3-0. He went on to play for the Blue Tigers on 39 occasions. He featured for the Indian team in a lot of tournaments of note.
Samir was part of the Indian squad that won the 2002 LG Cup in Vietnam. He also featured for the team in theA2007 & 2009 Nehru Cup, 2008AAFC Challenge CupAand the 2011 SAFF Cup.AIn his time as Indian international Samir Naik played under Stephen Constantine, Sukhvinder Singh, Bob Houghton, Armando Colaco and Savio Medeira.
Samir Naik was part of the Dempo squad that won 3 I-League titles and reached the semi-finals of the AFC Cup.
Samir Naik stepped down from International football in 2012. He was rewarded with the Dilip Sardesai award for Excellence in Sports by the Goa government for his contribution to Goan and Indian football.AHe is the third footballer andADempoASC player after team matesAMahesh GawliAand Climax Lawrence to receive the prestigious Goan state award from sports persons.
