FC Goa’s AFC Champions League Two clash against Al-Nassr FC at Fatorda may not have gone the way the home fans wanted, but there was plenty to take heart from. One could feel the old passion for football pulsing through the stadium at a time when football was losing its magic, and viewer interest was dying. The initial disappointment of global icon Cristiano Ronaldo not making it to Fatorda didn’t stop the fans from packing the stands. Rain or no rain, superstar or not, the crowds turned up and, after a long time, it felt like football had rekindled a long-lost flame.
Goa, which once stood neck-and-neck against football giants like Bengal, had seen its glorious days hit rock bottom over the past decade. The once-packed stands that chanted the names of players and clubs now stand mostly empty at league matches, or, for that matter, even at the much-hyped ISL. Goa’s historic clubs like Dempo, Salgaocar, and Sporting Clube de Goa from the I-League have left a void that has been difficult to fill. The Goa Professional League, which was once a lively breeding ground for talent, now struggles with low attendance, limited budgets, and waning local interest.
On Wednesday, it wasn’t just a crowd showing up for a match. It felt like something old and cherished coming back to life. The crowd continued to fill the Fatorda stadium, braving the heavy downpour that arrived almost an hour before the match. The energy and the cheers and the sudden break-in by one fan into the playing field to take a selfie with a Al-Nassr FC were rare, but positive signs.
More importantly, amid FC Goa’s spirited performance, it was the historic goal from Brison Fernandes, the first Indian to score in the AFC Champions League Two, that was a reflection of potential and talent. The visitors may not have pressed the pedal and chose to rotate their star players, but the resilience and fighting spirit displayed by the home team certainly won hearts.
The question now is whether these high-profile fixtures and big names like Ronaldo and Messi can serve as a catalyst for revival. Amid the gloom, the love for football remains palpable in Goa since there is an avid viewership of the Premier League and Champions League on television despite being telecast at late hours. These signs suggest that the passion for the sport is not entirely lost.
The match was not about winning or losing alone. It put so many things in perspective. It showed that the decline for football is not just about stadium attendance, but a disconnect at the village level, and a lack of a vision. Possibly, this is a telling sign that star power is needed to kick-start football again. Probably, Goans need more than the ordinary.
Goa football administrators need to pick lessons from Odisha’s hockey plan. A comprehensive approach involving grassroots development, infrastructure investment, youth academies, and cultural engagement is essential. Documentaries, football festivals, and school programmes can reconnect the younger generation with Goa’s rich football heritage. The government, corporate sponsors, and media partnerships must collaborate to make football aspirational and accessible again.
The October 22 match came as an opportunity; an opportunity to be reminded that football continues to be the DNA of Goans, and an opportunity that could mark the beginning of a new chapter where this beautiful game can once again become the heartbeat of Goa.
