On October 10, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant kicked off the football at a glitzy inaugural ceremony of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in the presence of Sports Minister Govind Gaude at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium, Bambolim. A few days prior, the mascot made a grand entry catching the attention of Goa, and highways sported hoardings, banners and other promo material screaming, "See you at Fatorda".
The prestigious event that unfolded on the next day, October 11, held much promise. The lush green pitch was inviting, and the glamour of an international tournament resonated across India and beyond. But, unfortunately, the opening day itself saw a dismal turnout for both matches, causing much embarrassment to Goa, a State with a rich legacy and recognition in football.
What has gone wrong? Is the ongoing exam schedule of schools keeping students and parents away from the matches? Has the government failed to create a 'World Cup' environment? Or, are Goans, who have demonstrated a voracious appetite for the ISL format, not interested in an international football contest without local stakes?
Undoubtedly, it is highly concerning Goa is recording low turnouts at the Nehru stadium for international FIFA or AFC matches. The trend has been seen for some time now as the State recorded disappointing spectator numbers even for the men's FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017. Again, this is an alarming situation, as Goa is supposed to be one of the hotbeds of football in India.
In contrast, there was a more enthusiastic response at venues like Mumbai and Bengaluru, which are not known as much for their football culture. The apathy of the Goan spectators towards the national team showed clearly when the senior men's team played the 2019 AFC Cup qualifier against Myanmar at Fatorda. Much was expected as it was an international match involving the men's team hosted by the State after a considerable gap. However, the sparse crowd that turned up stunned the administrators, even suggesting that Goa not be allotted international games.
Interestingly, it is not the case with FC Goa's ISL matches which enjoy far greater patronage among fans. The league sees at least 80% attendance for Goa's matches at Fatorda. This suggests that the ISL games are marketed better to woo the spectators, with FC Goa's numerous fan clubs working in tandem with the team to bring in the crowds. It is not that the U-17 women's World Cup hasn't been marketed in Goa; perhaps, it hasn't been marketed well enough by the State government agencies.
By inviting students amid their exam schedule, the authorities only show their desperation to get a crowd. Instead, they should have anticipated low crowds and taken appropriate measures rather than taking it too casually. This, however, doesn't address the root cause of why Goan spectators don't turn out for international matches voluntarily. It is high time the stakeholders of the game sit together and find the answers. There has to be a plan in place to bring back the spectators to Goa's favourite game.
