PANAJI
A strapping Bengali defender and a favourite Indian signing of the previous FC Goa Coach, Pronay Halder is eagerly looking forward to revive the glorious memories in the forthcoming ISL 4 season with the Gaurs.
In an interaction with The Goan on Tuesday, he expressed his delight to be back in the FC Goa colours after a year's gap. "I feel happy to be back. I was a part of the FC Goa set-up in the first two ISL seasons, though I did not play in the first year owing to an unfortunate injury. In the second year, I played in almost all the matches. With the FC Goa recall, I feel good to get another season at the franchise and I am looking forward to representing the side," the Tata Football Academy product stated.
Cherishing his on-field memories with FC Goa, he recalls two game results particularly well. "Our thumping 5-0 win in 2015 against Kerala Blasters FC in Kochi was special. I would also like to mention the final that year where we went down to Chennaiyin FC in an anti-climax as memorable as well. Though we lost, I learnt a lot from the match," he reminisced.
Last season, the India international was loaned out from Mohun Bagan to be an integral part of the Mumbai City FC set-up with Alexandre Guimarães as their gaffer. But injuries and Halder continued to stay inseparable. After providing a marker in his initial five matches, an injury sustained against his former ISL club kept him out of action for the rest of the season.
Playing under coaches Zico to Guimarães, he compared their styles as pretty much similar. "As a professional player, we have to adapt to coaching styles. That said, both are similar. Perhaps this could be attributed to the fact that both are Brazilians (incidentally, Guimarães though from Costa Rica was born in the land of the Seleção)," he said.
Talking on the two cents offered by these reputed coaches, he said: "Zico never spoke much, with his focus on practice sessions. Whereas, Guimarães after the game against the Kolkata side wherein I got red-carded, came up to me with a caution. While stating that I was playing well, he made me understand that if I get another red card, it will be difficult for me to be in the first 11 again."
While acknowledging that dealing with injuries is a struggle, he acknowledged that it is part of the game. He says he is in better shape now with his recovery process and will be in fine fettle, soon hitting his straps. Halder has been in Goa the last three weeks and undergoing practice alone every morning at the Chowgule College football ground.
With the new-look FC Goa side to assemble towards month-end for a week-long preparatory camp, before they head to Spain for their pre-season friendlies, the eight-time capped India player is eagerly looking forward to hit the ground running in a week's time.
While FC Goa's bottom of the pile showing last season is something he wishes not to talk about, he prefers to talk on his happy association with the team.
"I was not part of FC Goa last season so I would not like to say anything on their performance. But I would like to mention that like in the second season, when I was part of the set-up, the support from the fans was tremendous. It should be the same in the forthcoming season as well," he concurred.
