Conrad Barretto is a very popular name in the football circuit in Goa. He is the founder of The Football Dug Out (TFDO), a Facebook group of football fans in Goa. Apart from football, the group also did a lot of philanthropic work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We caught up with Conrad to get to know more about him, his life, his idea behind starting The Football Dug Out and lots more…
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m an avid lover of football. My love for food and travel takes me all around the world with Food and Travel Blogging through my Instagram. I’ve visited 25 out of 28 states in India and 8 countries across the globe to date. I’ve created Goa’s biggest Football Community called ‘The Football Dug Out’.
If anyone were to ask you, “What do you do for a living, then what would you say?”
I’d like to think of myself as an entrepreneur. Haha!, albeit not as successful as the word showcases one, nowadays. But yeah, I’m making strides in the football industry and the digital marketing space.
What was that one moment when you decided, “That’s it! I want to create a portal called “TFDO”!
Facebook has been an amazing platform for connecting with new people. Being a passionate Liverpool fan, I decided to bring all the Liverpool fans in Goa together. So, I started a group called Liverpool FC Goa. We have a strength of almost 700+ members today. We decided to meet up and watch the games together. At one of the screenings, I felt this would be even better if we watched it with rival fans. As passionate as every football fan in Goa is, I had a vision that would create a stadium-like atmosphere. So, to bring football fans from all leagues under one roof, I created ‘The Football Dug Out’.
Why is Liverpool your favourite football club? What makes the club so special?
I’ve been supporting the Reds since 2001. I feel extremely lucky to be a part of this football club as a fan. It is a club with a glorious history. The City of Liverpool and its people follow a very socialist ideology which perfectly matches my beliefs and political ideology. I’ve been to Anfield in 2019 when Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-1 in our first ever Premier League winning season.
One day before the match, I had a stadium tour where I got to touch the “This is Anfield” sign above the tunnel. I called my mom when I reached the stadium and said, “Look Mom, I made it.” It was a dream come true. On a Champions League night, singing and hearing the club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” being belted out at Anfield is a chilling experience, and the togetherness it brings helps make the aura of Liverpool what it is today. The fans chant at a glass-shattering decibel level. I could go on and on about why Liverpool is the best club to support right now. I am thankful for this incredible football journey.
P.S.- I also support my local team – FC GOA and take a lot of pride in supporting the Indian National Football Team as well.
Your role models? People you look up to when creating content or suggesting tactics?
I’ve never had a role model per se. But I always look up to my mom emotionally. She’s the epitome of “Never Give Up” and having patience. When it comes to creating content and strategies, I just learn from random research, experience, and observation, not from any person in particular.
Any memorable moment you remember in your life that changed everything?Also, what was the biggest challenge when pursuing this as a full-time career?
I left Bangalore because I could not deal with the traffic and I was about to get married too. That’s when I landed my first sports job as a Logistics Consultant for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Goa. It was historic because it was India’s first-ever appearance at a football World Cup, including hosting it. That’s when I pursued the football industry as my full-time career. My biggest challenge, was my parents. It’s not just me, it’s a challenge that most sports industry professionals face. Most parents are really happy to see their kids do a 9-5 secured job. Convincing them was the biggest challenge I faced.
And how did you overcome it?
I did my job well. I took my parents to some big football games all across the country. I acquired some assets of my own using the money I made. It’s not easy to satisfy parents nowadays, is it? With me being an influencer and food blogger as well, they loved the perks they received in terms of food and travel.
Any incident that helped in shaping you as a person?
Meeting my wife, Karen, and falling in love with her in the 10th grade changed my life goals. I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t met her.
Klopp, Dalglish, or Gerrard!!! Pick one and why?
GERRARD! He is Mr. Liverpool to me. I’ve never seen a player as versatile and gifted as Steven Gerrard. He could score goals from anywhere. His passing range and tackling ability are simply outstanding. As a captain, he gave the players around him a lot of confidence and belief.
Suarez, Torres, or Salah!!! Pick one and why?
Well, we’ve been lucky to see these three talented players play for Liverpool. Personally, I’d pick Torres in the No. 9 role. Suarez had just one good season in which he single-handedly almost won us the title. He was a maestro, minus his antics. Although, it’s going to be Mo Salah who will go down as the greatest amongst these three for winning everything with Liverpool.
What was the people’s feedback like, and who stood by you the most?
There will always be people who get jealous when they see you do well. But I have never been a vengeful person. I’m friends with the people that have tried to bring me down as well. I’ve channeled all that negativity into my learning and only grown as a person out of all of it. I’ve received 100x praise for what I’ve done for the football community in Goa and India. If there’s one person who has stood with me throughout, it’s my wife Karen. She’s the one that keeps me going.
What is the legacy you want to leave behind? And for whom?
I would love to be known as the person who spearheaded the football fan culture in Goa for all football lovers in Goa.
