Brazilian striker Rafael Coelho scored a majestic free kick “ one of the best goals in the ISL season 3 so far “ to provide a much needed win to FC Goa. Rafael believes the win could be the catalyst for the Gaurs to turn the tide in the remaining fixtures now. In an interview, Rafael spoke about the goal, its importance for the team and having the faith to see FC Goa sailing into the semis.
Q: You scored an amazing goal against Pune. How do you feel about it?
RC: Well, I am delighted to have scored such a goal. It was a very important game for us on Thursday and we needed to win. I'm happy to have played my part in FC Goa’s win.
Q: Have you scored a similar goal before? Where did the inspiration come from?
RC: Actually this is the first time I've ever scored a goal directly from a freekick. I do a bit of practice on freekicks and do try different methods to get the ball in the back of the net. I was aiming to make sure I put the ball on target and as close to the post as possible. It did feel amazing to have scored when the team needed it.
Q: Is there anything specific that you do before going to play a match?
Nothing specific as such but I listen to soft music to focus myself ahead of the game. I try to visualise the game ahead of me and then spend some time aligning myself with the team's strategy.
Q: What's the mood in the FC Goa camp right now after the second win?
RC: The team is happy and very satisfied with the victory. This was a very important game for us against a very tough opposition. This gives us the motivation to go one step further in the next match. Our focus is now on the next match.
Q: What do you feel are FC Goa's chances going ahead?
RC: Well, this win was very important. We needed to start the second phase of games with good results to keep the motivation high and the win did that for us. We have a very good and talented squad so if we keep performing like we did against Pune, I don't see why we cannot make it to the semi-finals.
