FC Goa finally tasted success. In a nail-biting encounter, the Gaurs romped home with a 2-1 win over Chennaiyin at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar and scripted their name on the 2019 Hero Super Cup. The team was euphoric over their first moment of glory after a couple of ‘almost-there’ situations. But back home, it was life as usual. The carnival that engulfs every FC Goa match at the ISL was amiss and the much-awaited victory for the team virtually went unnoticed. While the team went through their paces at Bhubaneswar, the Spaniards continued to bask in all glory putting up top notch performances throughout this tournament too. Ferran Corominas remained at the top of his form and was instrumental even in the final clash. But how far has the ISL or the Super Cup triumph taken Goan football? Can it signal a revival of the sport in Goa? It’s time to introspect.
The drums have gone silent and so has the chest-thumping euphoria that came along with every goal that FC Goa scored. The fact remains that majority of the stars who are torch-bearers of the Gaurs are not home-grown and over the five years of ISL and its affiliated tournaments, Goa as a State is yet to see significant strides in football.
Undoubtedly, the ISL glamour quotient is huge and fans have been driven by sheer patriotism. Football hasn’t gained much, it’s the entertainment that comes with the format that has enthused locals. The supply chain of footballers is missing and we have Mandar Rao, Brandon Fernandes, Seriton Fernandes and a few others that stand out. By and large the State has failed to produce national heroes in the sport which it boasted about over two decades ago. Legends like Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, Armando Colaco, Francis D’Souza, Nicholas Pereira, Bernard Pereira are a few other names from the past. These were literally like cult figures then not only with a huge fan following, but also on the radar of premier outstation clubs like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Football was part of Goa’s DNA, a sport which was part of village folklore and the
State’s identity.
And suddenly, the charm of football went amiss. A whole transition happened with stars fading away and the supply chain drying up. There was a dearth of great names associated with Goan football. The state may have great infrastructure and facilities, but the sport has taken a nosedive. FC Goa stars like Coro, Edu Bedia, Hugo Boumous and others could be inspirational for the younger generation, but by and large the league has failed to infuse the passion for football at the grassroots. The government and all stakeholders need to go back to the drawing board and introspect hard on what ails Goan football. We need to be honest about our football first.
