Q&A
Lucio, FC Goa Marquee Player
Lucimar Da Silva Ferreira (Lucio) might be the most decorated gaur and the oldest at 38, but he is no less a spring chicken or committal to the side. Always the last to leave the field post training, dedication and fitness levels in the game are unwavering for the 2002 FIFA World Cup winner with Brazil. Lucio, the marquee player of FC Goa caught up with Basil Sylvester Pinto for an exclusive interview at Nagoa Village Panchayat Grounds. EXCERPTS
Q: What prompted your return for a second ISL season?
LF: I enjoyed the experience last year. When I came back, I received a lot of support. The team did well and also fans treated me very well. Besides, Goa is very accommodating and that is why I decided to come back.
Q: Given that you have not played competitively since the last ISL edition, how have you kept yourfitness and touch with the game going?
LF: I have been training hard. I have been ensuring that I was keeping myself fit. I was just waiting for the time to pass by and when the opportunity came and FC Goa said that they were very interested, I was very happy to come back.
Q: What are your thoughts on the squad at your disposal comparatively to the one that you had last year?
LF: Last year’s squad was very good. This year, we just started our work, it will take time. There is no point in thinking about the past. We are all focusing on the present and what we have in front of us. In football, you always have to think of the present and now. That is all what matters.
Q: What are your impressions on the new domestic signings?
LF: I have seen the players. I think they are very good. I have watched them in training. What I have seen so far, these players have a lot of experience, lot of talent. I am expecting a lot from them because they are players of national level quality.
Q: There are four foreign additions to the squad. Your thoughts on these players…
LF: There are four players - two of them are at a very different stage in their careers as compared to the other two “ Rafael Dumas and Trinidade Goncalves, who are just starting out their careers. They have a lot of talent, a lot of potential and I am sure they will succeed. In terms of the other two, Richarlyson and Julio Cesar, they are players with a lot of experience and great knowledge of the game and so we will rely on their experience and talent when it comes to playing matches.
Q: FC Goa reached the finals last season and lost. How disappointing was the result? What went wrong?
LF: Similar to last season, I am very pleased with the way the team has gone about preparing in the pre-season. Obviously, last season we tried very hard and gave our best. We got all the way to the final. This year it is going to be the same energy, same objective. But only thing we want to change obviously is win the final as we ended up on the losing side last year.
