BLURB
FC Goa striker Victorino Fernandes has been sent back to Goa from the ongoing pre-season training in Dubai, as he contracted a contagious skin disease
Augusto Rodrigues
PANAJI
FC Goa striker Victorino Fernandes has been sent back to Goa from the ongoing pre-season training in Dubai, as he contracted a contagious skin disease.
“There is nothing to worry. He was sent back as a precautionary measure. He was checked by team Dr Sandip and then taken to a hospital in Dubai where the diagnosis was confirmed. He was asked to go back keeping in mind the health of other players,” stated an FC Goa source in Dubai.
“ Victorino will definitely recover before the first game (October 4). Since there was a chance that the other players may contract the rash, it was decided to send him back. The rash is contagious. It’s been done for the safety of the team,” read the team doctor's communique.
FC Goa marquee player Lucio “ who was recovering from an injury a few months back- is hundred per cent fit. “Lucio’s level of engagement in training dwarfs that of others. Despite his age, Lucio does exercise better than even the younger players in the team. He is a born leader,” asserted a top source while dismissing doubts about Lucio’s past injury woes.
FC Goa play their first practice match on September 11; the second either on September 14 or 15 and the third and last one on September 19. The team departs for Goa on September 22 and is expected to land at Dabolim airport at around 11 pm via Mumbai.
FC Goa will not be playing a friendly with Mumbai City FC which is also practicing in Dubai. Mumbai City FC was keen on playing a friendly with the Goan club but Zico decided against. “Zico did not accede to the request,” disclosed a Mumbai City FC official.
“FC Goa players will be having a session with Indian Super League (ISL) channel partners Star TV on September 23. Practice starts at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on September 24,” stated a senior management official associated with the club.
“A crate of twenty-four water bottles for training costs 30 Dirhams (Rs 543 at today’s market rate). One banana costs around Rs 20. Things are not cheap as compared to India,” stated a source. “But, the boys are doing fine. That's not their worry,” elucidated a source.
FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar, who was in Dubai with the team, is expected to pay another visit this week along with memorabilia for the hundreds of FC Goa fans that have been witnessing the training so far. FC Goa chief advisor Prasun Kumar Mukherjee is also expected to be with the team in Dubai for a few days.
