First hope, then disappointment, followed by despair -- that's what Goan football fans felt as they tracked the progress of the State team in the final-round qualifiers of the National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy. Four defeats in four matches have left even the most optimistic of supporters lost for any explanation for this unfathomable debacle. With one match to play against Maharashtra, even a point in the last game will be some consolation, even though it looks unlikely to come from the struggling team coached by Norberto Gonsalves.
Expected to put up a good fight against the top State football sides in the country, the dismal showing of the team has exposed the system, or lack of it, which monitors and fields the State teams for national tournaments. While there was no doubt that there has been a great decline in the fortunes of Goan football in the past decade, this Santosh Trophy performance has to be the nadir for the State team -- there can't be anything worse than this and one hopes they would only improve from hereon.
Before this shocking show, all the stakeholders of Goan football knew that there was a problem but there was no need felt to reach for the panic button. Now the alarm bells are ringing loud and it sets the stage to begin the process of revival of the fortunes of Goan football. A new dispensation is in place at the Goa Football Association (GFA) and finding a long-term fix for the problems of Goan football is aligned with the most pressing mandate for Caitano Fernandes' team. It will be unfair to entirely blame the GFA for the failures of the team but they will be now judged on how they react to address this crisis.
With the current system not producing desired results, a new process for scouting, developing and monitoring the team has to be put in place. As suggested by former captain Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, a dedicated cell with a technical director, coaches and scouts can be raised to track players and fast-track them into the State team. The current practice of selecting and assembling a team for a camp for a few weeks is not enough to field a strong side capable of winning the Santosh Trophy. While there is an emphasis on building a good team, due importance has to be given to the process of selection of the State coach, who can be appointed for a longer fixed tenure so that he/she can develop a playing style most suited for the team. It is hard to believe that Goa can't produce a team capable of reaching the knockout stages of the Santosh Trophy. To win, we simply have to field the best team we can.
FC Goa's struggles
While the State team struggles in the Santosh Trophy, FC Goa's late form slump in the Indian Super League has left the fans disappointed. After a forgettable season in the last edition where they finished ninth in the 11-team league, the Gaurs looked set to return to the expanded playoffs featuring the top six teams this season. However, a string of draws and defeats has virtually eliminated them from the knockouts. They face a red-hot Bengaluru FC in their last league match and even a win against the Blues can't guarantee the Gaurs a playoff spot unless Odisha FC slip up. Looks like another missed opportunity for FC Goa.
Before this shocking show, all the stakeholders of Goan football knew that there was a problem but there was no need felt to reach for the panic button. Now the alarm bells are ringing loud and it sets the stage to begin the process of revival of the fortunes of Goan football. A new dispensation is in place at the Goa Football Association (GFA) and finding a long-term fix for the problems of Goan football is aligned with the most pressing mandate for Caitano Fernandes' team. It will be unfair to entirely blame the GFA for the failures of the team but they will be now judged on how they react to address this crisis.
With the current system not producing desired results, a new process for scouting, developing and monitoring the team has to be put in place. As suggested by former captain Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, a dedicated cell with a technical director, coaches and scouts can be raised to track players and fast-track them into the State team. The current practice of selecting and assembling a team for a camp for a few weeks is not enough to field a strong side capable of winning the Santosh Trophy. While there is an emphasis on building a good team, due importance has to be given to the process of selection of the State coach, who can be appointed for a longer fixed tenure so that he/she can develop a playing style most suited for the team. It is hard to believe that Goa can't produce a team capable of reaching the knockout stages of the Santosh Trophy. To win, we simply have to field the best team we can.
FC Goa's struggles
While the State team struggles in the Santosh Trophy, FC Goa's late form slump in the Indian Super League has left the fans disappointed. After a forgettable season in the last edition where they finished ninth in the 11-team league, the Gaurs looked set to return to the expanded playoffs featuring the top six teams this season. However, a string of draws and defeats has virtually eliminated them from the knockouts. They face a red-hot Bengaluru FC in their last league match and even a win against the Blues can't guarantee the Gaurs a playoff spot unless Odisha FC slip up. Looks like another missed opportunity for FC Goa.
