Joed Almeida: The FC Goa stadium announcer who keeps Fatorda buzzing
Almeida has been FC Goa's stadium announcer for a decade, leading chants and creating an unmistakable buzz in the Fatorda stands.
Joed Almeida still remembers the first time he stepped into Goa’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, also popularly known as Fatorda Stadium, for FC Goa’s first-ever Indian Super League (ISL) game.
A rookie stadium announcer at the time, Almeida noticed a frenzy like Goa had never seen before. The sight of football icons like Robert Pires and Lucio only intensified the craze, transforming the atmosphere into something unforgettable.
“That time the craze was new; it was a novel thing. I knew this was going to be larger than life,” Almeida recalls.
That first match sparked a connection, not just between Almeida and the club, but between the announcer and the entire FC Goa community. Before long, “Forca Goa” became more than just a chant he delivered on the mic, it was part of his identity.
“FC Goa is home; it’s family. It’s a feeling like no other.”
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 28, 2024
For over a decade, Joed Almeida has brought the energy to Goa’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as their stadium announcer. Though he’s also a radio jockey and emcee, nothing compares to the thrill of rallying fans at Fatorda… pic.twitter.com/bASKh00ai9
Nearly a decade later, Almeida’s voice still echoes through Fatorda Stadium on match days. Almeida has since witnessed all of the club’s highs and lows in his ten seasons as a stadium announcer.
He has worked in various roles alongside his position as a stadium announcer for over ten years, but nothing compares to the thrill of rallying the crowd to cheer for their beloved Gaurs.
“It’s special for me when the crowd is reciprocating that love I’m showing on the mic. We are all there for one thing at the end of the day: to see our team win. And even if we are not winning, to see them supporting the players is a surreal feeling. We are a part of it together, it’s just that I have the mic,” he says with pride.
Over the years, Almeida has had the privilege of witnessing some of the most thrilling matches at Fatorda. His favorite? The unforgettable 7-0 victory over Mumbai City FC, a historic match in which Dudu Omagbemi and Semboi Haokip both scored hat-tricks. After the game, Almeida walked into a local bar and was greeted like a hero, a memory he cherishes to this day.
Another match that remains etched in Almeida’s heart is the 2015 ISL final. FC Goa had taken a late lead through Jofre and looked set to clinch the ISL Cup, only to see Chennaiyin FC’s Stiven Mendoza turn the game around in the dying minutes with two quick goals. Almeida recalls holding the mic, fighting back tears as he announced Mendoza’s goals.
“We thought we had won the ISL Cup, but then the Mendoza magic happened. I was literally crying when I held the mic,” he says, laughing but remembering the sting of that moment.
Such is his passion that Almeida has often joined friends and fellow fans on trips to support FC Goa at away venues as well. For him, the Fatorda Stadium isn’t just a workplace; it’s a second home, a place of belonging. This love runs in the family too. His father, a devoted FC Goa supporter, seldom misses a game. Every matchday, he waits eagerly for Almeida’s sister to return from work so he can take the motorcycle for a trip to the stadium.
“FC Goa is home; it’s family. It’s a feeling like no other. It’s a place where I feel welcome, where no matter who you are, we’re just part of a big familia,” he shares.
In addition to his role as a stadium announcer, Almeida continues to work as an emcee and radio jockey. But nothing, he says, compares to the unique joy of leading chants, sparking excitement, and creating that unmistakable buzz within Fatorda’s stands.
“FC Goa is my first love. If you take it away from me, it will leave me heartbroken.”
