Basil Sylvester Pinto
Foreign Players Lose their Star Appeal
The FC Goa players landed on an afternoon flight in Goa on September 25, sans their Head Coach Zico, international stars, Grégory Arnolin hand Jofre Mateu González, and Indian national player, Robin Singh who arrive within the next 48 hours. The majority of the contingent that arrived first, a Sunday, was given to the opinion that they were to be put up at a plush resort in Utorda, but when the foreign players whisked into the team bus reached a certain hotel in Brittona they realized they were bluffed. It was not only in their case but with the media as well the ruse was used. The last two years, the Gaurs were put up at a multi-star hotel in Panjim. It is understood from a reliable source that the players were aggrieved of the accommodation provided to them at their property which belongs to their new owner.
Need to Unwind
While we are still on the players, the foreigners particularly here, who are upset where they are put up it is learnt that they do have little else to do. Apparently a gaming facility with FIFA and PES is to be made available to them. In fact, even if they have to leave the premises, they have to inform the concerned security. Unlike, in the last couple of years, where foreign players like Jofre was freely seen walking or pillion riding the streets of Panjim with gay abandon and Grégory Arnolin feeling the pulse of Goa at the Panjim Market place.
Munching on Gaur Fodder
As the Sesa Football Academy Ground at Sirsaim was not available as training facility, a decision was taken to book the Nagoa Village Panchayat Ground as an alternative. And to this effect, days prior to the Gaurs homecoming from their pre-season training at Rio in Brazil the aforementioned ground in South Goa was booked by FC Goa officials from September 25 to October 10 with a likelihood of an extension. With no other alternative ground available due to the AFC U-16 Championship, the one at Nagoa was seen as the best bet. According to a local panch, the ground was earlier booked by only one team, Australia for the AFC tourney, but then compelling circumstances due to unavailability of the Cuncolim Ground, their Ground was looked at an option for practice. And given the grim situation at hand, the Panch authorities gave the AFC officials their green signal to make optimum use of the ground and thereby increasing the teams and sessions of practice at the ground virtually every day. This had a telling effect on the well-being of the ground as the blades of grass used to tear out and needed to be tended to. But there was little or no time for the same. The earlier scheduled FC Goa friendlies on September 29 and 30 against DSK Shivajians and India U-19 were called off post their second practice session on the eve of the first friendly at a high-level meeting which included Zico, his assistant, Fernando Vannucci among others citing that the ground would be put at risk if matches were held and it would be best for training only. Thus Zico’s Gaurs losing out on an invaluable opportunity on competitive games in Indian conditions, particularly for their foreign new signings who would have loved to test themselves prior to the ISL.
Injury Ward
Since the team began their training in Goa on September 27, the likes of Luciano Sobrosa, Grégory Arnolin, Denzil Franco (all defenders) and Subhashish Roy Chowdhury (goal-keeper) have been confined to the sidelines. Joining them on Wednesday was India striker, Robin Singh, which furthered plagued the team even before The Gaurs campaign had actually begun. Head Coach Zico thus has been blunted by a choice of only 19 from 24 to choose from for their opening engagement against NorthEast United FC in Guwahati on October 4.
Carrying A Liabiility
Tell-tale signs of former India custodian, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury looked at to provide stiff competition to Laxmikant Kattimani between the posts is not to be. According to a reliable source, coming for the second half in the second pre-season friendly in Rio against Boavista SC, Chowdhury went for a dive to collect the ball to fall badly on his heel. Until that point, he looked pretty effective at the goal as per our informant. He was immediately replaced at goal by young ‘keeper Sukhadev Patil. The injury apparently was so bad that the Brazilian gaffer of the FC Goa lads was in talks with the first-choice goalkeeper of the Brazilian club side who did not play in the match. The news in fact reached last year’s foreign goal-keeper in the side, Elinton Andrade who is still nursing a burning desire to return to The Gaurs for another season. When this reporter, observed him at the training ground in Nagoa, he was at best gingerly taking rounds of the playing field, unlike the others on the injury ward who looked to be on the road to recovery. According to our source, to avoid the blushes, a replacement for Chowdhury Chowdhury in the squad will be announced only once their ISL 3 campaign is underway. Incidentally, FC Goa still has room to accommodate another foreign player and Indian player respectively.
Júlio César – Striker or Midfielder
The FC Goa official page on Facebook states Júlio César da Silva e Souza, the last named foreign signing with the squad as a midfielder, but our inside source begs to differ. According to him, Júlio César is a striker. According to Júlio’s friend and fellow footballer, Elinton Andrade who played with him league football in Romania and who figured in FC Goa’s ISL campaign last season, Júlio can play in both positions – forward and midfield with élan. But with Leo Moura missing from ISL action this season, it would come as no surprise if Júlio is employed in a similar capacity. Only time will tell.
