With
regret I write this piece expressing my feelings on the humiliating defeat FC
Goa suffered on 13th of this month at Chennai, from Chennaiyin. When
Goa lost in the penultimate encounter in Madras in the Santosh Trophy for the
first time after the invasion of Goa by
Bharat, the national Press commented thus, “though Goa lost yet Indian soccer
has to learn a lot from Goa that displayed totally different brand
of soccer”. During that time Goa had great stalwarts in its
team of which type we don’t see any more now. Can we get another right outer
like Vassu? Can we see another goal-keeper like Benzinho? Can we get
another deep defender like Menino Figueredo? Can we ever again get another
Andrew? Today Goa hardly have a few players worthy of admiration and
because of this now FC Goa plays with more non Goans who it looks
are least bothered to give their best for their temporarily adopted place, they
looked like playing only for the sake of money. In fact today it is money that
plays foot-ball. The non-Goan players have already crossed their prime and since most of
them looks rejected in their countries and regions, they came to Goa.
Besides
Mandar nobody seen giving his life for FC Goa that was totally outplayed by the
host in every department of the game. All the three
goals of the host were wonderful but the first scored by Jeje had
class in itself, it was a world class header. Goa’s passing was slow and
erratic; in the beginning they controlled the ball in the midfield
only. However, both the Goan defenders standing in between Jeje are
to be blamed for not doing serious attempt to jump first only to
head the ball away. Neither the custodian of Goa came out to jump
and punch the ball for safety.
The
defense of Goa was slow and vulnerable, their marking was poor, it was neither
zonal nor man to man. I don’t know who selected the outstation
players and on what basis? The owner of FC Goa it looks like interested only in
promoting thru FC Goa his Casino business and wooing Goans towards his
Casinos. Because of this FC Goa soccer team the owner of the Casino
who run the FC Goa succeeded in brainwashing the Goans in general to accept the
sinful money making venture. The owner
of FC Goa wants nothing except the acceptance of Casinos in Goa by the Goans and
that is what he does precisely. He is not interested in the promotion of Goan soccer
by creating proper infrastructure and base for producing talented Goan players.
Even during those days Portuguese promoted Goans but now under the Indian
domination Goans are neglected. Non Goan persons like him must know that they
are using the name of Goa which has great tradition of displaying finest soccer
and this image of Goa should not be altered.
It is a
shame that FC Goa is represented by very few Goans, even during Portuguese time
Goa was represented with more players inspite of having exceptionally talented
Portuese players. The overall quality of
the non-Goan players playing for FC Goa is low, I am sure if properly searched
there would be better players in Goa to play for Goan outfit than many of the
currently donning the clours of FC Goa, from outside Goa.
