Basil Sylvester Pinto
PANAJI
Three games down and one of the better teams of the Indian Super League over the last two seasons languish at rock bottom of the league standings, without a single point after three embittering losses. The die-hards still chant out Forca Goa but their voices are mellowing out with each defeat.
Early in the campaign in their first game in the Highlands on October 4, FC Goa encountered a loss for the first time against the side from the northeast and the principality of the loss was pinpointed at the Gaurs custodian, Laxmikant Kattimani. Granted he was the culprit that led to the first goal against them in the eventual 0-2 loss, but bloopers do happen and you cannot put the goalkeeper on the guillotine’s block immediately.
Over the last two seasons, he has given enough credence that if he gets a bad game or two on the bounce, there should be a decent length of rope given to him to prove that he is still their first choice custodian. In the second game at home against FC Pune City on October 8, the keeper shrugged off the first game jitters to gradually get into his stride. But the Gaurs' third successive loss has put immense pressure on Kattimani to deliver a clean sheet against their next tie away at inaugural champions Atletico de Kolkata.
In this season's roster, Kattimani is Zico's first-choice option in goal. The coach has more two options but while seasoned campaigner Subhasish Roy Chowdhury is out injured, young Sukhdev Patel is a back-up option at best in case of any contingency.
In an interview to this paper, Zico revealed that Subhasish was registered by FC Goa without his cognizance. The keeper travelled with FC Goa to Brazil for their pre-season friendlies but failed fitness tests there. And when the Gaurs' contingent returned to Goa, the coach was shocked to find out that Subhasish had already been registered by the team management without the Brazilian's knowledge. The club then requested the ISL officials for a replacement but the keeper was deemed fit by the organisers of the league after a medical in Mumbai.
Before he was signed, Subhasish -- who was coming out of a year-long layoff -- gave a 30-minute trial under the bar at Duler Stadium, Mapusa on August 6 conducted by goalkeeping coach Richard Sanches at the behest of Zico. After observing the former ATK goalie, Sanches noted that Subhasish had some way to go before getting into proper shape for competitive matches. However, the FC Goa management has been understood to have signed up the Bengali shot-stopper the same day.
Less than two weeks later, the keeper who was part of the Delhi Dynamos set-up last season was reportedly in practice in Kolkata with his former I-League club East Bengal at the then ongoing Calcutta Football League. According to our informant, at the training there Chowdhury was tentative in the goal when he went for a dive and ensured that he landed on his heel which was an improper technique. A give away that he may have not fully recovered from his year-long lay-off due to a dodgy knee. And thereby not staying toe-in-line to the keeping technique of landing on his toes.
Thus, when he boarded the plane to Brazil with the FC Goa squad on August 29, he was already carrying a niggle. To make matters worse, Chowdhury broke down in the second pre-season friendly against Boavista SC when he went for a dive to collect the ball to fall badly on his heel. He was immediately replaced by the young Sukhdev in goal.
As the ISL kicked off, Chowdhury was either tending to himself in the greens outside the playing field or hobbling for his rounds. After the Kattimani gaffe in Guwahati and their first home game against Pune, Chowdhury began his grind as a contingency plan. The third tie had even his name as a substitute on the team sheet for their next away game against Chennaiyin FC. But there is still big question mark over his fitness and obvious doubts linger whether he will have an impact on the game, if at all gets a game.
With Zico still having the option to fill up his squad quota with a domestic and foreign signing each, it is still early days to suggest if he would go for the luxury of adding a fourth keeper. In fact, Zico had his eyes set on the first-choice goalkeeper of Boa Vista as a likely replacement for Chowdhury until the club's request was shot down by the ISL authorities.
It remains to be seen what Zico decides when the wounded Gaurs play for a second successive away game against ATK on October 16. If he will continue to repose his faith in Kattimani, go for an experienced pair of hands whose fitness is suspect or throw a young turk -- who is one of the developmental players -- in turbulent waters.
FAN THOUGHTS
Should Katti be replaced at goal against ATK?
Savio Rodrigues, Teacher, Margao: Kattimani was our hero last year. He should get another chance at least or unless if he lacks confidence for this season. Though I would entirely blame him for the blunder of the first game.
Shailen Signapurkar, Student, Mapusa: Kattimani is doing quite well after his horrific night in Guwahati. But we also have a seasoned goalkeeper in Subhasish who played well for ATK in the first season, though Edel Bete played most of the minutes. But whenever he was called upon, he did well. Now in the case of Kattimani, I think he is having a tough time between the posts while Sukhdev is very young. Subhasish must be given a stint against his former team in Kolkata. Who knows he might change our fortunes.
