Panaji: Joshuah Vaz finally found the missing piece of the puzzle at Tlangnuam Futsal Club.The futsal coach and instructor tasted glory after four runnersup finishes in a row at the AIFF Futsal Club Championship. Earlier this year, Joshuah guided the India women’s futsal team to a silver at the SAFF Futsal Championships.“Winning this championship was a very special moment for me. After finishing as runnersup four years in a row, lifting the trophy took a huge burden off my shoulders,” Joshuah told TOI on Tuesday.The beauty of Aizawal-based Tlangnuam’s triumph was that they achieved the feat in their maiden appearance.Tlangnuam dominated from start to finish against experienced teams and players, scoring 69 goals in just five matches, a record that reflects the quality, belief and commitment.“Our preparation was no different from any other tournament. We worked hard, stayed disciplined, and did our job,” said Joshuah.The Goan coach credits family and friends for his success, particularly Rohit Kanitkar of Forza FC, who played an instrumental role as the main sponsor of Tlangnuam.Joshuah was a player-cum-coach for Mohammedan Sporting Club, who lost to Delhi FC in 2021-22. Then history was repeated with Minerva Academy FC in 2022-23. He was on the sidelines, taking Golazo FC to the final in 2023-24, but lost against Corbett FC. Last year, he was part of Bhawanipore FC, but the title eluded him once again as Goal Hunterz FC defeated his side in the final.Joshuah was not giving up yet.“I saw incredible hunger and determination in the eyes of the players. They kept telling me, ‘Coach, we will win it for you this time’, and they lived up to that promise. I am also deeply grateful to the players’ families and friends, and to the people of Mizoram, whose prayers and unwavering support meant so much to us,” said Joshuah.Tlangnuam defeated Progressive Sports Academy 9-5 in the title clash. It was the only game where they failed to score in double digits. Their 23-0 quarterfinal win against Young Hearts FC was the biggest victory in the competition’s five-year history.Joshuah is the only Indian to have achieved a Level 2 and Level 3 AFC Futsal Coaching Certificate. And there is no stopping the 35-year-old.“India, and Goa in particular, have a very bright future in futsal, provided the right people are entrusted with leading its development. We need more structured competitions for both senior and age-group players — boys and girls alike — so that coaches and players have opportunities to compete, make mistakes, learn, and continue developing,” said Joshuah.
