PANAJI
The upcoming match of Bhausaheb Bandokar Memorial Trophy 2.0 between Dempo SC and FC Goa on August 30, Friday, has been moved to the Ella Ground in Old Goa. The game will now kick off at 4 pm, and fans can attend for free with no ticket required.
The change comes after FC Goa's coach, Manolo Márquez had expressed concerns about the condition of the Fatorda pitch. Márquez had recently told The Goan that the heavy rains had made the pitch very difficult to play on, affecting his team’s performance. His comments followed a tough game where FC Goa suffered an injury to midfielder Mohammad Yasir. Yasir was hurt during warm-up and had to be replaced by Brison Fernandes.
Márquez was frustrated by the pitch conditions and Yasir's injury, saying, "We lost Yasir, and it looks like it will be a long-term issue. The pitch is challenging due to the rain. Playing too many games on the same pitch in a short period is taking a toll."
He also pointed out that the issue is affecting all teams, not just FC Goa. "We need to think about how many games are scheduled on the same pitch," Márquez added.
Presently, FC Goa stand on top of group A in this prestigious tournament.
