When the Gaurs galloped, the lions forgot to roar

FC Goa's Reinaldo celebrates after netting the second goal of the day

When the Gaurs gallop , the lions forget how to roar. Instead , the 18,000 odd spectators at the Nehru stadium in Fatorda, broke out into a riot of emotions. Four minutes were enough for Romeo and Mandar to repay Zico with the trust reposed on them. As the match meandered through the ninety minutes and FC Goa walked home victorious 2-0, Zico's storyline read a simple home truth-honesty pays in football too.

Romeo Fernandes time and again proved that he is a different player under the Brazilian's tutelage. He was at the right place , at the right time;handled his opponents with maturity-this included John Riise- and when to release the ball to his colleagues to bludgeon the opponents goal. There were times when he made playing look so easy. Mandar Rao Desai had an equally eloquent ninety minutes on the pitch. The two used the flanks with speed and sent in crosses that had coach Roberto Carlos watch exasperatedly at his team mates on the pitch.

FC Goa's comfort level against Delhi was borne out from the fact that captain Lucio , Gregory Arnolin and goalkeeper Elinton Andrade created a defensive buffer that gave their opponents little room to play into their penalty area. Lucio and Arnolin let nothing pass them - as the stopper backs of the team they covered space and anticipated intelligently.The long range shots were deftly dealt by goalkeeper Elinton. Keenan Almeida and Debabrata Roy who who played as right and left backs were given plenty of room to have a ball. After long , Zico proved that defense is still the best form of attack.

Delhi did enjoy ball possession for the greater part of the first session after being down. Infact , they earned four corners to FC Goa's none. But , that was because they tried to break the FC Goa defense with long shots at goal. With things not working , Carlos thought it best to take the jump himself. His entry in the second half -if anything - proved that sometimes age pulls it's own strings. The closest he came to give a glimpse of his past was when the game had lapsed to extra time.He let go a free kick that for once had Elinton in trouble. The power in his shots had Elinton grappling to avoid the ball rolling in after he stopped it with his body. It showed that age does not always evaporate power.

 FC Goa's second goal reflected opportunism. Spanish Joffre let go a powerful free kick towards Brazilian Reinaldo. The last named sidestepped his marker and smashed the ball past a helpless Delhi goalkeeper Sanjiban Ghosh.

In a way , that was a cue for Zico that it was time to shut shop for more adventures up front.Luciano Sabrosa came in place of Joffre and Indian Sabeeth replaced forward Reinaldo. Jonatan luca took the place of Moura.

Delhi dynamos did try to make meaningful forays but by then , the FC Goa players were well camped in their own territory. With the numbers in their favour , there was little the men from the North could do.

As the referee blew the long whistle one reality was clear-FC Goa did the right thing leaving the onus on Zico. The man can be trusted. For , just on the first days performance-barring some uneventful mishaps-FC Goa has been moulded to play creative and clean football.

Lucio or Roberto could decide where ISL 2015 rests

Roberto Carlos or Lucio could well decide the way ISL 2015 swings

19,800 spectators  will watch expectantly as FC Goa take on Delhi Dynamos in their  first match of  Hero India Super League (HISL) 2015 at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Fatorda. The flight the FC Goa balloon meanders through will define the chaff from the grain.

 Whatever be the outcome of the opener, for the thousands gathered it will be a life time opportunity to watch the greatest proponents of the game- Lucio of FC Goa and Roberto Carlos- demonstrate why football is all about love.

How the game will transcend is difficult to predict because both managers- Zico and Roberto Carlos-refused to divulge the formations they are going to adopt. Football in Brazil is normally translated through the 4-3-3 format.  But, times are changing. With international contours colouring the teams, formats may well be decided to suit the fittest players selected.

“FC Goa is not the only team. There are seven more teams and all want to win. I can tell you we will play good football,” is what FC Goa coach Zico said. Lack of good football is why the number of spectators in the stadiums was dwindling. Good football will galvanise the crowds back to the games.

Whatever be the permutations and combinations  the mantle of taking FC Goa to the pinnacle of the competition and roping in the crowds back will fall only another legend from Brazil-Lucio. The way he caresses the ball will determine whether FC Goa fans are left laughing with joy or fuming. He has shown great form during training. At 38, he has demonstrated he has the years to lead of team of 20 plus.

“I know my responsibility and I am here because I can do what is expected from me. A player can win a game for his team but he cannot win a tournament. The playing eleven have to be one at all times,” is what he said while explaining he was ready for the hugs and brick bats.

Like most teams, FC Goa will utilise the quota of six foreigners in the starting eleven. Captain Lucio and goalkeeper  Elinton  Andrade are sure to find themselves in the starting eleven. Spanish Jofre and French  Gregory Arnolin can be in the scent, of being the first to trudge, onto the pitch too. The presence of the remaining will unfold Zico’s strategy for the tournament.

Romeo Fernandes – who Zico is familiar with since last season – is one among the eight Goans who could have a whiff of the pitch for the full ninety minutes. Victorino Fernandes and Mandar Rao Desai appeared impressive during training in Goa.  From the two, Victorino has the penchant for scoring. But , his reliably quotient is lesser then the others vying for a place in the starting eleven. Mandar has played for FC Goa last year. Victorino will be making his debut.

From amongst the foreigners defender Luciano Sabrosa and striker Daryl Duffy  may have to bide their time before they take to the field. Zico can select only the best six and these two may fall in the teams surplus pool.

Football cannot be discussed without Brazil.The HISL is trying to get glamour back to football with the foreigners recruited. From many that have joined this year, two (both Brazilian Lucio and Roberto Carlos) could well decide which way the Trophy goes this year. Will it stay in Goa or will it go North(Delhi)? This discussion might well  be settled by these two Brazilians.

The Turf Begins To Tick for FC Goa at Tilak Maidan

FC Goa players on their first day of training at the Tilak maidan,Vasco

The turf at Tilak maidan, Vasco got the first feel of the feet and brains of the FC Goa players that are set to stake claim for the title of Indian Super League (ISL) II champions. Except for coach Zico – who is in Zurich attending some private business- FC Goa were in full force with captain Lucio in their first training session – after their two week sojourn in Dubai.

Training started at 8.30 am and finished at 10.05 am. In the one and a half hour the team was together, two players stuck out- Lucio, despite his age still possess the demeanour of a champion, and goalkeeper Elinton Andrade also from Brazil.  The defence envisaged by Zico is set the rest of the team wetting the fans appetite for goals and more goals.

Thirty seven year Lucio beats his age on the field. Still athletic and strong Lucio displayed  in the one hour thirty five  odd minutes of training that he still understands the psychological nuances of getting all to play together. During training, he was at the right place at the right time for the ball; he demonstrated when to use his left or right leg; he made receiving the ball look simple and on one occasion let go a shot at goal that differentiates a genius.

 Thirty six year old goalkeeper Elinton Andrade showed in his training along with Laximikant Kattimani and Luis Barreto that age is not a deterrent for quick reflexes and anticipation of the flight of the ball. Elinton is agile, very good at the traditional style of goalkeeping and uses the unconventional methods of stopping the ball when needed.

You need eleven players for a victory clap in football. Lucio and Elinton may well be the base of this clap. The rest can translate Zico’s offensive lines into reality by meandering through with a samba and bharatnatyam fusion.

Four Brazilians oversaw the training with started with warm up exercises. The players were then divided into groups of thirteen and put through routines supervised by Zico’s back up start. Since most spoke Brazilian (Portuguese) a translator was at hand. The players were then split into pairs for the last part of exercises that lasted roughly for around forty minutes.

Ball possession, endurance and mental cohesiveness formed the remaining part of training that spread for almost an hour. The 5 versus 5 methods was employed in this session.

Last year’s pick Mandar Rao Desai   and Laximikant Kattimani stood out amongst the rest of the Indian players in training .From the manner training was crystallising a picture began to emerge on why football is not only about skill. Like in life, thinking helps let the ball flow flawlessly.

ISL Franchises will have to at least wait for 5 years for financial returns

Nita Ambani ,founder and chairpersom of \Football Sports Development

“The eight franchises in the Indian Super league (ISL) will have to, at least, wait till the fifth year to start getting some returns. The ISL has paid All India Football Federation (AIFF) thirty five crores in the first two years, thirty eight crores in the second and forty one crores now. Almost hundred and fifty crores have been paid in the last three to four years,” stated a top ISL source on condition of anonymity.

“It is just not FC Goa that is not being paid. All are and that is because the AIFF needed the funds to build up infrastructure. We cannot afford having foreign players suffer injuries due to lack of infrastructure. That is detrimental to the sport ,’ explained the source.

“Initially, we did not think of such a huge outlay. But, once we got the ball rolling we had to make sure that there were no slip ups. We had to resurface a stadium and even had to pay up for the lights in Goa. Money was spent practically all over India. I don’t think the clubs are expecting returns at this stage from the ISL,” surmised our source.

“ Football Sports Development Limited ( FSDL) is promoted by IMG, Reliance and Star. Money comes to FSDL and then distributed after taking care of expenditure. ISL is a brand name for FSDL,” explained our source.

 “Pune City FC has just got land for a new stadium. Very ISL team has pledged to spend Rs two crores on grass root football every year. Grass root development has started but we do not expect the teams to be spending that much at this stage now. Expenditure will materialise when we all start talking in terms of profits and losses. Everyone is here for the money. This is no secret or CSR initiative. But, like us, the franchises have to wait too.” acknowledged our source.

“Spending and income gross is different amongst teams. Some teams have managed sponsors others have not been so lucky. That does mean that sponsorship doors have been closed. Some other companies will come calling. Like the spectators, sponsors too are watching. It is too early to ride now. Patience is the essence,” retorted our source whilst sounding confident that ISL will ride through to money at some point.

I League,ISL merger can be a fruitful reality if tackled realistically 

Bengaluru FC have shown that getting crowds is not a problem with  right commitment

After speculations, threats and half-hearted clarifications the cauldron is left alone. This is not time for football to simmer. With just two weeks left for the Indian Super league to start, it is too late to expect the cauldron to heat. When the ISL started last year, we all said let us wait and watch. We did. And , there was plenty of contentment that football did not need a kick to start ; that the ball just rolled on and on -as the spectators who preferred the labyrinths of their homes – decided to come out and just love football.

From the reports; from the contract signed by IMG Reliance and All India Football Federation (AIFF) it is pretty clear that football in India has a new partner in IMG Reliance. They have the money. So, they call the shots. AIFF, for all practical purposes, is the big daddy of Indian football. However, daddy has grown old. It is the boy growing up with affluence who is calling the shots for daddy.

The ISL will one day merge with the I League. This will happen one day and has to happen because the ISL is IMG-Reliance’s baby. Now read this: “This agreement grants IMG Reliance all commercial rights to football across all football properties controlled by AIFF including but not limited to the national teams and all current and future professional leagues. Such rights include media rights, sponsorship and advertising rights, licensing and merchandising rights, franchise rights, new league rights and any other commercial rights attached to any of these properties.”

Let us not get into the theatrics of when, what, why or by whom. The agreement is in place and since it involves heavy players, room to scuttle it will sound naive. All we can do is sit and wait and hope the contract will not be extended. If football is growing it may well be. But the sign will be when the Indian begins to enjoy playing the game.

Every ISL franchise spends in crores each year on players and sundry other facilities. No I League team can scale such a wall. Jumping from a few crores to plenty will be a herculean task for most – if not all- I league teams at the moment. In many ways, the merger song starts on budget blues.

An ISL team requires having a minimum of nine foreign players and a maximum of eleven. Six foreign players can take the field at a time in the maximum.

Look at the picture when it comes to the I league. Four foreign players in the maximum and all four can take the field. Most teams do not have four players. If they do, the majority of players are mediocre -Bengaluru FC is the only exception.  Less spoken, the better. If the good are injured, the story turns pathetic.

The I League introduced the system of allowing only four foreigners to play to give our boys a chance to play. The equation as of now stands at 4 to 7. Just the reverse happens in the ISL. In the 6 to 5 swing, our boys end up being the back benchers on the field and at the banks. Their pie has neither cream nor sauce.

The ISL expects all franchises to spend Rs two crores a year on grass root development. Cash incentives of even over a crore have been offered to teams pursuing tapping and training talent. Most teams have hardly started moving in this direction. It will take time. Some have already asked longer time than others.

Grass root football has taken off with the I league teams. Though not really structured, efforts are being ploughed. Results have started showing in the North East. Bengaluru is beginning to bloom. Kolkata and Goa – once the nerve centres of football- have joined but look pretty late then the new comers on the block.

As long as we learn to seed the roots ingenuously, the grass will have to wait.

ISL teams are now enjoying State support as each state has a team and most of the teams carry the name of their state or city. The setup is different in the I League. What happens to the supporters of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Atletico de Kolkata? Which way do the supporters of FC Goa turn? Where do the Sporting, Salgaocar and Dempo  supporters look to?

Like smart cities, do we have smart teams? Will the mergers of the two lead to more fragmentation or will it help unite?

AIFF president Praful Patel has time and again said that the interest of the I League teams will always be kept in mind. But, it is the ISL teams that are spending the money and bringing in the crowds. It’s money having sway over people.

The ISL has danced to different tunes from the end of last season till now. Babies are loved when they are born. Because babies cannot talk, they make us think. The I League has been on the beat for many years and has us confused. Let us not tread quickly with the ISL baby. Its second year could well shed some light why football in India is bouncing erratically.

FC Goa raise Base tickets To Rs 200

Tickets for the FC Goa home matches have been priced at Rs 200 , Rs 250,Rs 480,Rs 800 plus tax and the box ticket Rs 3000 plus tax. The Rs 800 and s 3000 tickets carry and additional 15& entertainment tax and 14% sales tax. Tickets are to be available online through Book My show according to highly placed FC Goa sources in Mumbai.

Though there appeared a bit of hesitation on pricing the base tickets-at the time of going to press- sources informed The Goan that the remaining prices were settled and that the tickets will “be on sale after Ganesh Chathurti.” “One group of tickets is priced Rs 480 to avoid the tax slab if tickets are priced at Rs 500 and above,” explained our source.

The prices of tickets last year were: Rs 100, Rs 200,Rs 500 and Rs 2,500. “The tickets had to be increased as the revenue generated last year was just around Rs 2 crores. The Fatorda stadium seats 19,800 people. There was little room to manoeuvre,” rationalised the FC Goa source.

“The prices of tickets may change if FC Goa reach the semi-finals. But, the change will be marginal. The prices for the finals in December are fixed by ISL. FC Goa will have no say in that as the finals is organised by them, not the home team,” added our source.

FC Goa has spent around Rs 21 crores just on the players. Another Rs  4 crores is being spent on Zico and his back up team taking the cost overruns to over 25 crores. The response has not been good from advertisers. We have Adidas for the moment but that is not enough. That is why we are trying to rope in some Goan entrepreneurs. We know the impact will not be much but something is better than nothing at this stage,” stated our source.

“The ISL has to be paid a yearly franchise fee of Rs 12.20 crores with 20% service tax. That comes to around 14 crores this year.”  Disclosed our source, elaborating on the cost structure the franchise has to face while bringing together the effort.

In a recently released press statement Chennaiyin FC too declared their tickets at Rs 150, Rs 200,Rs 300,Rs 500 and Rs 2,500. Unlike the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Goa, the stadium in Chennai accommodates 40,000 spectators.

Meanwhile, highly placed sources in Dubai confirmed that coach Zico will not be arriving with the team on the night of September 22. “Zico is going to Zurich for a few days. He will return to Goa from Zurich. The boys will be looked after by his technical team, in his absence.”

“ I know he is going for some FIFA related work. I don’t know whether his visit has anything to do with the FIFA elections. “quipped our source in Dubai.

FC Goa Play Safe;Victorino Sent Back After Contracting Contagious Skin Rash

FC Goa striker Victorino Fernandes has returned  to Goa from pre-season training in Dubai as he contracted a contagious skin disease. “There is nothing to worry. He was sent back as a precautionary measure. He was checked by team Dr Sandip and then taken to a hospital in Dubai where the diagnosis was confirmed. He was asked to go back keeping in mind the other players,” stated an FC Goa source with the team in Dubai.

“ Victorino will definitely recover before the first game ( October 4) . Since there was a chance that the other players may contract the rash, it was decided to send him back. The rash is contagious. It’s been done for the safety of the team,” read a communiqué of the team doctor.

FC Goa marquee player Lucio – who was recovering from an injury a few months back- is hundred per cent fit. “ Lucio’s level of engagement in training dwarfs the others . Despite his age, Lucio does exercises better than even the younger players in the team. He is a born leader,” asserted our source while disclaiming doubts about Lucio’s past injury woes.

FC Goa play their first practise match on September 11 the second on either September 14 or 15 and the third and last one on September 19. The team leaves Dubai for Goa on September 22 and is expected to land in Dabolim airport at around 11 pm after leaving Mumbai around 10.30 pm.

FC Goa will not be playing a friendly with Mumbai City FC who is also practising in Dubai. Mumbai City FC was keen on playing a friendly with their Goan counterparts. “Zico did not accede to the request” stated a Mumbai City FC official with his team.

“Players will be having a session with Indian Super League (ISL) channel partners Star TV on September 23. Practise starts at Tilak maidan, Vasco on September 24,” stated a senior management official associated with the club.

“A crate of twenty four water bottles for training costs 30 Dhirams ( Rs 543 at today’s market rate). One banana costs around Rs twenty. Things are not cheap compared to India,” stated our source. “but , the boys are doing fine. That is not their worry,” elucidated our source.

FC Goa  co-owner  Dattaraj Salgaocar ,who was in Dubai with the team, is expected to pay another visit this week along with memorabilia for the hundreds of  FC Goa fans that have been witnessing the training so far. FC Goa chief advisor  Prasun Kumar Mukherjee is also expected to be with the team in Dubai for a few days.

8 Goans among FC Goa's 16 Indians

FC Goa squad in Dubai for their pre-season training

 FC Goa has signed in five more Goan players for the second edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) taking their tally of players from the State to eight. There were seven players from Goa last season- Gabriel, Peter, Clifford, Rowilson,  Kattimani, Romeo and Mandar. The total strenght of FC Goa last season was twenty seven out of which fifteen were Indian and seven were Goan.

The story is slightly different for the second edition. A total of twenty six players have been signed this year and sixteen are from India. Goan players form half of the Indian contingent. The increase, in comparison to last year, is in line with the managements sales pitch that “the team is of Goans”.

Victorino Fernandes  and Keenan Almeida  from Sporting Clube de Goa , Nicolau Colaco from Salgaocar FC,  Joaquim Abranches from FC Pune and Luis Barreto from East Bengal  are the five new  Goans to join Dempo Sports Club’s Laxmikant Kattimani, Mandar Rao Dessai and Romeo Fernandes who have already got the feel of Zico last year.

From among the eight Goan players, five have already played for India in various age groups of international tournaments. Joaquim Abranches who hails from Verna   started his career with Salcette Footbal Club, moved to Dempo from where he took off to East Bengal and then joined Pune FC. From among the lot, this forward- who jostles opponents from the wings- has represented India eleven times and has a goal for his country to his name. Though appearing in the ISL for the first time, he has represented his country the most from among the five players.

Romeo Fernandes whose impact on FC Goa last season earned him a ticket for training with Brazilian Club Atletico de Paranaense has represented the India under-23 team four times and scored three goals . Victorino Fernandes has worn India’s jersey twice but has yet to open his account in the goal scorers  list.

 Dempo SC midfielder Mandar Rao Dessai has represented the State on four occasions and has once caught the eye of the national selectors in the under-23 age group category. He has a goal  to his name from the four games he played for Goa as a left winger. Mandar played for FC Goa in eleven of their games last year. Dempo goalkeeper and last year’s FC Goa substitute FC Goa  goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani has also been selected to represent the Indian under-23 team on two occasions.

Defenders Nicolau Colaco(31) , Keenan Almeida (23)  and goalkeeper Luis Barreto(34)are yet to get a call to don India’s colours.

Luis Barreto played for Kerala Blasters last year. Luis from Nuvem  has played for Mumbai FC, Mohammedan and East Bengal. Luis and Laxmikant Kattimani – who played for FC Goa last season- will be assisting Brazilian goalkeeper Elinton Andrade called in for the squad by Zico. Laxmikant has pickled tastefully in goal through time and is inching his way towards India goalkeeper Subrata Paul.  He stood out for Dempo Sports Club in the one Goa Football Association (GFA) Professional league match he played before leaving with the FC Goa team for pre-season training in Dubai.

Keenan Almeida and Nicolau Colaco  are the two Goan among the eight defenders stacked up by FC Goa. At twenty three Nicolau has some time to get into the frame of Zico. Thirty one year old Nicolau has no time to stand and stare.

The Tale of Two Derbies;A Search For Answers

The packed stand in Calcutta on the left and the empty stands in Goa...Pic by  Goa football Live

BY DOMNIC PAES IN FATORDA

September 6   witnessed two of India's well known football derbies. One took place in the East of India (Calcutta) and the other on the West of India (Goa).

East Bengal took on Mohun Bagan at the mammoth Salt Lake stadium in front of a huge crowd, supporting both sets of teams, while Dempo SC took on Churchill Brothers at the tiny Duler Stadium in Mapusa , in front of empty stands.

Although people may argue that the  East Bengal v/s Mohun Bagan  match has a lot of history associated with it, there is no denying the fact that the  Dempo SC v/s  Churchill Brothers game  used to be one of the biggest  in Goa in the  early 2000's attracting  at least 15000 thousand people earlier.

So, what has changed since then? Where have those fans disappeared? What has GFA done to rectify this anomaly? Where is that passion for football that Goan’s talk (rather brag) about? A lot of questions, that have very few satisfactory answers.

 Goan’s  have always been susegad, yet they came for matches earlier- in large numbers- but nowadays teams are unable to sell even 100 tickets. A common answer most people give is that, the quality of football is poor. But, then, the quality is almost same in Kolkata. Yet, they get a much better crowd.

So who has better passion for football? Just sitting on a couch and talking about having passion for football is stupid. And most Goan’s are guilty of bragging about this unfounded passion that has suddenly gone missing.

The topic of FC Goa will definitely crop up and people will say that they manage a full house. But that is the case in other parts of India as well just because of the promotion. This is where the Goa Football Association comes into picture and should take the major blame for this debacle. Having all GPL matches at one stadium is utter foolishness. The rains have gone missing so there is no question of water logging at the smaller grounds. Why are teams from South Goa playing at Duler, Mapusa?. Let the South based teams (Churchill, Cavelossim, Curtorim,Guardian Angel) play at either Raia or Cuncolim or Trinity ground. Its much better to have 1000 people in a small village stadium than having 10 people at Duler Stadium. Secondly the marketing of GPL by the GFA has been almost non- existent. Why is it that the Kolkata league can get telecast on TV and the Goa League organisers cannot even give live updates?

Goan football in on its death bed and needs radical changes to survive. The fact that there is not a single Goan in the India U-19 team and other age group teams, itself should ring the alarm bells for Goan football. A state that contributed almost half of the Indian team a few years ago, can’t even have 2 players in the starting eleven in recent matches.

Constructive discussion on this topic will be highly appreciated. Even officials in the know are free to clarify certain points if they feel are not appropriate.

Viva Goa !

(The views of the writer are published because they reflect the anguish of true Goan football fans-Editor)

Friends Can Prepare the Best Pitch For Cricket in Goa

Chetan Desai (right) and Vinod Phadke (Left) setting the pitch for cricket in Goa

For many years, cricket in Goa was sort of taken to the cleaners when the dirt hardly merited much attention.  Tickets were oversold in one match –the India v/s Australia one day international at Fatorda stadium, - daggers were drawn and individuals were thrown on an imaginary sacrificial altar.Some people made money, the wrong way. But, no one was physically  injured or hurt .

Thus, came into existence the Pendse Committee. Probably, more money was spent on the Pendse Committee then the money earned by the accused in the ticket gate scam. After all, if Dayanand Narvekar and committee did make money, how much?  And, was it worth the effort? Or was it a whim of fancy that was used to plough political mileage? Did Narvekar need that sort of money?

Dayanand  Narvekar quit cricket. But, before doing so, he left it in wise hands. One hand knew the way to get turn out of the ball; the other knew to nurture talent. The spotlight shifted on in many ways on Vinod Phadke and Chetan Desai. The president and secretary started with a strategic plan focussing on the game and the clubs who sow the seeds.

Vinod Phadke played good cricket before he got into administration. He started as an off spinner in Mapusa High School and was the first team captain of St Xaviers College  from the science stream. Work compulsions did not allow him to don the Ranji gloves .

Vinod joined the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) as member in 1994 when Dattaraj  Salgaocar was its president. From then on, the rise was steady until he was elected president in 2012. That was the time when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was sharing  crores it had earned for the game  with all its affiliates. Those who saw the glint of the money and knew they could not jump the fence to gobble the pie started using short cuts- crude ones. For many – especially the wicked- Pendse became a wand.

After the Pendse report , the matter was taken to court. It’s been going on for years and may even go on for another few more. At the moment, witnesses are deposing. Strangely, not once in the hearings so far, has the name Vinod Phadke been uttered. Yet, there have been people trying to get him involved.

The Pendse report has never stated that Vinod should not be allowed to stand for GCA elections. It recommended the government should not give grants or grounds  for cricket  if  those thought to be involved  were   in the GCA. The GCA has never gone to the government for grants or grounds. The report never stated that those indicted could not contest in a GCA election.

The imbroglio in cricket in Goa actually started when Vinod went on leave and handed over charge  of acting president to Shekar  Salkar.  In a way, that was the biggest fraud on cricket in Goa. By giving the ropes to Salkar –“ to see whether he would manage well”- was the time when the ball started turning away from the game.  Cricket started getting crumpled. Fortunately, it was just for six months. Yet, the toll was heavy.

 “Since he was trying to make a mess, I decided to give him a chance to see what he could do for the good of cricket. He has not only shown me but the entire cricket fraternity his colours. I never expected this mess,” said Vinod in a chat once.

*In six months, GCA took a loan of three crores and its property was mortgaged.

*In six months, the cricket academy that was doing good service to aspiring cricketers was closed.

*In six months, attempts were made to side-line the clubs- the lifeline of the association and the game in Goa.

*Close to six lakhs were spent to silence the clubs. Despite court orders that no money should be spent, lakhs were. The Executive Committee was a figure head.

It has been two months now that the new committee is in place. Chetan Desai – there couldn’t be anyone better than him now- is at the helm. Vinod Phadke is the general secretary. Roles have been reversed. But, when friends with good intention barter responsibilities, the ball bounces predictably.

Activity on the GCA pitch has taken centre stage once again. Preparations are already on for the Ranji ties ahead. With a coach in place, ex- test player Kanitkar is Goa’s new coach; the Goan boys have started on fitness and are bound to leave for training to Pune. The physios are working and so are the video analysts. In short, GCA has come back to cricketing days. Stupid boardroom manoeuvres have been consigned to the memories of the unworthy.

Two months is not enough to dig out the grime of six months. Yet, Chetan and his team are set to keep the shine on the ball. The academy will start again. An international stadium will be ready in a realistic place and in realistic time.

Goa will host an international cricket tie when the ground in Tivim is ready. This time though, the game will take centre stage, not the sale of tickets. This time, Vinod has even the BCCI behind him.

Grass roots is not a numbers game,it's understanding moral policing in sports

 Some youngsters in Anjuna displayed amazing talent

Last weekend was spent in Anjuna watching a football final of under-16 school boy’s .The atmosphere was electric. Mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters were all there. The villagers were there too. When the ball was directed towards goal, there were cheers. In many ways, it looked  like a mini ISL was at play in a  village without the reliance frills. The feeling was romantic away from the glare of the media.

The evening  was not about the style of football played. It was about the talent on display and there was quite a bit of it. The young boys could shoot. The passing was inherent. They could position themselves for the ball and they could shoot intelligently. Skill was evident.

As the referee blew the final whistle, the topic was not about the winners or losers. It was about the talent on display. Unfortunately, there were no scouts for the match. That is where the conversation veered long after the prizes were distributed and the triumphed and defeated trooped off home.

There is lot of talk about grass roots today. Somehow, grass roots will not be understood until we learn to embrace all aspects of grass roots. The main being scouting. More importantly, moral policing. Honest people are needed if we want the game to grow. This is exactly what we lack.

Moral policing, in other words, is about honesty-needing honest people. Because, unless we have honest people, the talented will not succeed. They will be trampled by the less talented or even those not at all talented and in this way football will always stay behind. We will then begin to understand why India cannot defeat Nepal.

Tournaments for children are good. They are essential. The more, the merrier. Somehow, this has not gone into the brain width of many. The Higher Secondary School League was started last year by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA). Many people applauded the initiative. Most importantly, it was appreciated by the higher secondary students who found it to be a window to not play but perform.

For those of us who followed the HSS League, there was plenty to watch, appreciate and even imbibe. Some of the boys and girls could have surely been somewhere in this football world had their potential not only been documented but harnessed properly. Nothing really came of it because once again there were no scouts present for any of the matches played around in Goa. Unfortunately, that shame continues even now.

To make matters worse, the HSS league –as it was called last year- has been cancelled this year by the present DSYA director. The excuses were lame, reaching the point of filth. What is good for sport cannot be condoned on flimsy grounds whetted by flimsier people. The league was for the HSS students and if they were happy the league should have stayed.

There have been many people in Goa who have pretended to love football. Actually they do not love the sport for the physical or intellectual thrill it provides. They are in it because they look at football as a platform to grow themselves in society. Some people have tried this hard and have been kicked out of the game equally hard. In short, every dog has his day.

 We can have not one but even forty grass roots centres. We may have four thousand or even five thousand children in our programmes (GFDC inflates its numbers in the hope of impressing Manohar Parrikar). Numbers do not really matter. What matters is – do we have the scouts to differentiate the chaff from the sheaf?

No. Goa does not. Something has to be done to rectify this anomaly. Or else, we will be running in circles, spending government money and finishing this football experiment as a political circus.

Actually, football is entwined in political circles in Goa. Let us discuss this later.

Coming back to scouts, I think Goa is capable of having quite a few good scouts. Severino is a name that comes to mind immediately. Severino has been training many teams in Goa. In fact he has been coaching quite a few teams successfully. But, more importantly he has been through these years been silently scouting talent and supplying them to many teams. He is the feeder of players to teams lacking funds. The boys he supplies do not add up as numbers. They play good entertaining football. Most are players spotted by Severino.

Goa needs more Severino’s. People like him need to be respected. He may be hardly known in Goa but he could well have been a star talent scout abroad. This is our sad story. We look yonder when actually we have it within us. We can pay a foreigner easily but shrug when it comes to paying our own.

This is the difference and this difference can be changed only by us.

                                                           




GFA Pro League matches clash with ISL

Four Goa Football Association (GFA) Goa Professional League matches clash with FC Goa’s Indian Super league (ISL) home matches. If FC Goa reaches the semi-finals, the home semi-final will also clash along with the final scheduled for December 20.

The Indian Super league (ISL) schedule was declared on May 29 and Goa Football Association   declared the Goa Professional League draw on July 11. The GFA had more than a month to make sure the two schedules did not clash. However, the fans have been ignored.

FC Goa starts their ISL campaign on October 4 with a game against Delhi Dynamos. Brazilian Lucio will be on one side and Roberto Carlos on the other- two great Brazilian defenders with a class of their own. Yet on that day, Dempo Sports Club is scheduled to play Calangute Association at Duler grounds, Mapusa at 4pm.

October 7 will see FC Goa cross swords with ISL champions Atletico de Kolkata. GFA has scheduled a sort of a derby match of the Goa Professional League between Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa on the same day. The ISL has two arch states-Goa and Kolkata fighting for supremacy.

Goa FC face Kerala Blasters on October 22, the same day Goa’s derby between Salgaocar FC and Dempo Sports Club takes place at Duler.  Sporting Clube de Goa who has already lost 0-3 to Churchill Brother Sports club in their away match face them again on November 25- the day FC Goa play their last home match against North East United FC.

If FC Goa reaches the semi-finals, the match will against clash with a GFA Pro League match as the entire dates clash with ISL semi-finals dates. Guardian Angel SC play Curtorim Gymkhana in Raia on the day the ISL final is scheduled in Goa on December 20.

The GFA Pro League schedule is done by the Competition Committee headed by Vice President (South) Schubert Furtado.

Incidentally, at the GFA Annual General Meeting (AGM ) had recently ,  a handful of members had thought of writing to FC Goa asking for a financial contribution as it is starved for cash. “ The idea was moved by a member to ask FC Goa asking for a part or one match gate collection contribution or for a donation for the teams registration as has been done by  Kerala blasters,” stated  GFA  Vice President (North) Lavinio Pereira.

  “How can something like that be done? Shrinivas has done a lot for football when he was president and is still spending a lot for the game. The ISL is still not paying back the investors. If Shrinivas thinks GFA needs the money he will himself give. We do not need to ask him,” added Lavinio.

With the clash in schedules it is going to be the fan that will lose. In the long term , football too.

Salgaocar's Duffy , Last Foreign Recruit To Sign For FC Goa

Darryl Duffy Signs for FC Goa

Salgaocar FC mercurial striker Darryl Duffy is the last foreign recruit to sign for FC Goa. “The team is set after the signing of Duffy,” a senior FC Goa disclosed. “ It is a great opportunity for me. I am delighted and eagerly awaiting the challenges,” Duffy said. Darryl Duffy will be leaving for pre-season training in Dubai with the rest of the team tomorrow (September 2)

Salgaocar FC will be playing the remaining part of GFA’s Pro League without Darryl. The Scotsman absence will swirl the heads of many Salgaocar FC fans. Darryl Duffy played a pivotal role in SalgaocarFC’s win in the Pro League and Durand cup last season. But , things started going askew after he was straddled by injuries for the remaining part of last season. In the end, Salgaocar FC just managed to avoid relegation.

“Salgaocar have some good youngsters. This is a chance for them to prove themselves in the Professional League. I don’t think the team will suffer in my absence. It is a chance for the others to prove themselves. The Pro League offers a good platform,” Duffy said.

Salgaocar FC did not impress in the recently concluded Charity match with Sporting Clube de Goa. They did flare up occasionally when Duffy came in as a substitute in the second half. But , the spark was missing in his absence in the first half.

Duffy joins Goa’s Victorino and Brazilian Simoes in the FC Goa attack. Both Victorino and Duffy have sharp and strong feet in front of the goal. They both have the temperament of strikers and do not shy at taking pot-shots at goals from even a distance.

Will Victorino Start His Victory March With FC Goa ?

Victorino Fernandes....will he start his victory march with FC Goa?

Sporting Clube de Goa’s Victorino Fernandes should feel he is not a cheapskate on FC Goa’s field as the players get ready to board the plane for Dubai for their pre-season training, tomorrow. One of the number of other Goans in the team, Victorino has a realistic chance of allowing the FC fans  lap up on a good performance by a Goan for his team.

Every fan gets delirious when his or her team wins. This delirium can cascade into riots of emotions if the local flavour stands out. Romeo Fernandes did it on occasions last year. They were momentary jerks. Victorino could bring in stability and fluidity if he manages to gel with his new teammates and impress coach Zico in the weeks the team has in Dubai and Goa before they embark on their second onslaught of the Indian Super league (ISL).

Then, we can expect the Goans to do the samba at the Fatorda stadium.

Romeo Fernandes from Dempo Sports club was the cynosure of all fans last season. In his eleven appearances , he had eleven shots on targets and three goals to his tally. According to ISL statistics, his shots on target percentage was 57.89. Nearly, first class.  Romeo’s performance earned him accolades from Zico and a trip to Brazil for further training. Somehow, Romeo appeared to get confused, alone in foreign land and came home before his sojourn could actually begin.

Romeo has not been playing competitive football after his trip to Brazil. He played in the Federation Cup and for a bit in the I league. He appeared hazy, the thrust lost.  Actually, Dempo Sports Club was a confused team. The internal shenanigans spelt out in the end.

Victorino Fernandes , on the other hand , scored twenty one goals during last season. Six of those came in the I league (three) and three goals in the Federation Cup. But, he showed he was streets ahead of his other Goan counterparts in the match he tricked against East Bengal.

Victorino has learnt to run and create vacant spaces for himself; he has understood the nuances of carrying players along with him – to free others; setting himself free from his opponents and shooting on target on a high percentage.

Victorino will be getting quality international exposure for the first time. As a player, he has grown with foreign players trading their ware with Sporting. But, the story is different with FC Goa. Here, wisdom is imparted by players who have seen the highs of the game and who have taken the game to highs on their own merit. The scale is huge.

“I am happy I got this opportunity. I am not allowing anything to frighten me. For me it is going to be a great experience not only to learn but put my talent on display against the best in the game. Football for me is a passion and it will remain that way with whichever club I play. To have the ball on my legs is the greatest thing, to hear the fans is even better” said Victorino  on  starting his journey with FC Goa .

Sporting Clube Leave Grass root Spine With Portuguese
Gabriel Pinto

Sporting Clube de Goa's Portuguese Coach Gabriel Pinto  nurturing Goan youngsters

Sporting Clube de Goa has hired the services of Portuguese football coach Gabriel Pinto to draw and implement a methodology for their grass root development programme.  Gabriel Pinto who has had stints as coach with teams in the Portuguese League, feels the rewards are more when laying emphasis on youngsters enamoured with the ball.

Gabriel is going to have forty under 10 boys – a majority of them from Don Bosco High School, Panaji – in his first batch as he prepares to understand the social and educational structure in Goa as he embarks on Sporting’s mission of harnessing talent within the local settings.

“ I am not here to ape the systems of the west or Portugal. Every country has its own set ups. Football is a common game but the structures of play are different. I am here to first study the systems in Goa and draw a methodology that will suit the Goan boy and girl. This does not happen overnight but, a start is a must and I am happy Sporting Clube de Goa has given me this opportunity,” Gabriel told The Goan .

“ Sporting has a number of good coaches  all over Goa looking after the various teams it has under its umbrella. I am going around seeing what is happening and am really impressed at the way young talent is being scouted and trained. The non-residential academy that is being started will surely produce a lot of good players. I am impressed by the talent in Goa,” added Gabriel.

Sporting Clube has under-14,under-16,under-18 and under-20 teams in Goa Football Association’s (GFA) leagues. It also has an under-15 and under-19 team in the I league . Four schools – sacred Heart , Anjuna; Pope John XXIII in Quepem; St Alex High School , Curtorim and Government High School , Cuncolim are the other schools adopted by the clube  under its youth development programme.

“Gabriel is going to give us the methodology for grass root training. He will set the programme for us and oversee it’s implementation. He is not here to cut , copy and paste,” stated Sporting CEO Victor Fernandes.

I League Clubs Not Ready To Stomach Merger With ISL

The rumours and purported statements attributed to senior All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials that the ISL and the I League will be amalgamated some years from now are being rubbished by some owners of I League clubs in the country. “The ISL has been given recognition as a tournament by FIFA and it has been sold to Reliance by AIFF. How can AIFF merge the countries league with a tournament temporarily recognised by FIFA?” asked the owner of an I league club.

Despite AIFF  president Praful  Patel having assured owners  of the I league clubs, in a meeting  in early August in New Delhi ,that, “I League team will not be at an disadvantage with licensing rules if the I League is merged with ISL” , club owners are sure an amalgamation will only take football away from the mainstream- the general public.

"For us (FIFA), I-League and not ISL is India's biggest football competition. ISL is a championship of eight franchises for two months. You cannot have two leagues in a country. Football doesn't work like that. I-League is most important for development of football in India," FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke had said in a press conference in New Delhi on October 15, 2015. He said there was no clash between the I League and the  Indian Super League (ISL) as their identities and objectives are entirely different from one another. How can one then think of an amalgamation?

How many teams will Goa have in the ISl if the two are merged? Three? The ISL will end up splitting Goans in three ways. Will there be crowds? And what will our boys do if each team is supposed to have nine foreigners? The ISL is a financial spin off to a few in the AIFF. The FIFA is embroiled in a financial racket. So, is the AIFF now,’ stated the owner of an I league team  on condition of anonymity.

“Do you think the people in Bengal will allow something like this? Our clubs (Mohun Bagan and East Bengal) have over hundred years of history. ATK may have the money, we have the people. AIFF has a mandate too. It has to stick to it,” stated the president of a club from Bengal mocking statements emanating from New Delhi.

“The I League was discussed and nothing else. The meeting between the owners was on how to strengthen the I League and make it more economically viable and the meeting held the other day too deliberated only on the I League. The fate of the I league in case of the withdrawal of two teams –Pune FC and Bharat FC- will be discussed after the teams formally withdraw,” stated a representative of a club present.

“Corruption is rampant in AIFF as it is in FIFA. Earthworms are squirming out of the can in Zurich. Not yet in Delhi. Corruption is bound to be present where there is money. ISL has proved that it is all about money. So, why be blind?” asked another owner of an I League club.

AIFF President Praful Patel  was quoted on saying that there  was no question of downplaying the importance of I-league. "Let us not confuse the issue. ISL is a tournament that brings attention to football. It is like a booster dose," he said.

I League CEO Sunando Dhar had told The Goan that ,”the I league was there to stay .”

Money changes people and priorities with times. Money has transfigured FIFA. Is it going to take AIFF on a forlorn drive?

Mumbai City FC Hope To Play Friendly With FC Goa in Dubai

Four Goan players- Pratesh  Shirodkar, Gabriel Fernandes, Rowilson Rodrigues and Albino Gomes- land in  Dubai  today  with team  Mumbai City FC  for pre-season training. Brandon Fernandes who has joined the India camp may join the team later, depending whether he is picked up by coach Stephen Constantine for India XI.

Mumbai City FC have made a request to team FC Goa for a friendly match during their practise session as the Goan ISL outfit is to start their pre-season training nearby on September 3. “Zico will take a final call on the practise match with Mumbai city FC.”  stated a senior FC Goa  official associated with the teams tour to Dubai to The Goan.

The full Mumbai City FC contingent arrives in Dubai today along with marquee player cum coach Nicolas Anelka. “ We definitely want Brandon to be selected and play for India . If he can home here too , it will be fine. But, I don’t think he will get much time to gel with the team here,” stated a Mumbai City FC official to The Goan.

Mumbai FC are expected to train in Dubai for three weeks and will come back to Mumbai to practise at the once famous Cooperage stadium later. “The remaining of the training will take place only at the Cooperage. We have booked a hotel nearby for the entire squad and all will be staying together, “stated the member of the Mumbai city FC team.

“This is a once of a life time opportunity to learn with the senior players from abroad. I am going to give my hundred per cent on and off the field. Learning to improve my skills and techniques are going to be my first priority, said Pratesh Shirodkar hours before boarding the flight to Dubai.

“Gabriel, Albino and Rowilson are with me. We met with some of the other boys from various parts of India. We are waiting to meet Sunil Chetri too. The chance to play and train along with him ,’ is another opportunity,” stated Pratesh.

Denzil, Augustin To Straighten Edges For Habbas's Eyes ?

Denzil Franco can defend without blemishes when at his best

 Doubts about their chances of making it to the starting eleven of Atletico de Kolkata will hover on the minds of Goan players Augustin Fernandes and Denzil Franco as they prepare for the flight to Spain on August 25 with the rest of the team for their pre-season preparations. “I am not sure yet whether it is right to call the trip a pre-season training or not . I have yet to receive the details but, all the Indian players are leaving for Spain on August 25,” stated team manager Avishek Bhattacharjee in a chat with The Goan.

Denzil Franco played four games for Atletico last Indian Super league (ISL). He has been out due to injury ever since. Despite clearing his medicals, Denzil has to put on his thinking hat to fathom  his chances as Atletico signed  Rino Anto for ninety odd lakhs. The money spent is not the problem. Rino has had an excellent season as a right back in the last I league and that is the reason to be worried.  It is going to be form versus enthusiasm.

Augustin Fernandes, who plays as a stopper for Salgaocar Football Club, is making his presence in the ISL for the first time. He was picked up through the Players Draft.  Arnab Mondal and Spain’s Jose Miguel Gonsalez  were the two stoppers employed last season. Arnab was one of the Indian players who impressed. His reading of the game and ability to maintain his fitness will make Augustin’s road to the first eleven a bit itchy at the start. However, Augustin has the talent to take the extra step and the experience he soaks in Spain, could be pivotal.

The left back position is relatively open, to be claimed by the ATK defensive stir ups. It is here that they will have to impress coach Antonio  Habas. Anto , Denzil and even to an extent, Augustin  can play in the left back position. Who outclass whom, will be known as the team returns to India. Denzil goes to Spain not having played competitive football for a year.

The choice of getting Portuguese striker Helger Postiga as their marquee player has only helped in augmenting the much hyped belief that Habas  orients his attacks through a safety net. “ Postiga is a very hardworking player. He can be seen around the field helping his team mates in the midfield and defense. But, as a striker he has never impressed.  As we say, he never showed strikers feet. We are happy he is in India,” wrote renowned Portuguese football commentator Raul Bras in an email to The Goan.

“The work he puts in can never be doubted. He has not scored enough to be able to call himself a striker of repute. He has not shone in Portugal or for that matter even in Spain. His shots at goal are not incisive and that is what differentiates a striker from the rest,” added Raul.

Atletico de Kolkata have to defend the ISL title. Are they going to do it by defending to the hilt ? And, then attacking ? The Italians did it for years.

Mumbai City FC To Consolidate With 6 Foreigners In Starting XI 

Oscar Bruzon...Has helped Goans get a level playing field in ISL

Mumbai City FC will use six foreign players in their starting eleven. Coach and marquee player who was down in India till yesterday is supposed to have taken this decision after a four day consultation with assistant coach Oscar Bruzon and the rest of the team staff in the city. The Indian players are expected to assemble prior to the international players who are to arrive in India along with Anelka on August 26.

Anelka is supposed to have discussed the role of the foreign players in this edition of the ISL with his team in India.  “Each Indian player is going to be evaluated during the training session with zero base marks. The best will find their place among the five Indian Anelka will field,” stated Mumbai City FC assistant coach Oscar Bruzon in an exclusive interview to The Goan.

“The Indian players were not discussed in this trip of his. Other logistics related to the team training and the strategy of team composition were spelt out by Nicolas Anelka during his short  trip to Mumbai,” stated Oscar.

“A lot of thought has gone in the selection of all players in the draft. Except for goalkeeper Albino Gomes who was picket as a development player (read U-23) all the rest were grabbed for their abilities to develop their playing skills. All Goan players have an equal chance of making it to the first eleven. It all depends on how they fare during the practise sessions,” disclosed Oscar while emphasising no player starts with a favourite tag.

“We agreed that practising in Europe will not help players acclimatise to the conditions in India. Anelka has discussed a few places where the team could practise. Four places have been spoken about and a decision will be taken on where we go, depending on the availability of good grounds,” stated Oscar.

“Rowilson , Pratesh, Brandon and Gabriel  are there in the team because they have a lot to offer. Each of the players can develop a career graph for himself. They are all equally talented and none are here because they are my favourites. They possess good football skills. Skills that they can complement learning with the other senior members,” suggested Oscar.

Mumbai City FC has nine foreign players in its roster till date. Two are from Spain- midfielders  Juan Agulera  Nunez and Cristian Bustos, defender Andre Mortiz from Brazil,defender Darren O Dea from Ireland,midfielder Sony Norde and defender  Frantz Bertin from Haiti, Pavel CMos from Czech Republic in the defense, Selim Benachour from Tunisia in the midfield and Nicolas Anelka  upfront.

Mumbai FC City took the auction for Sunil Chetri to the banks literally and the ageing Indian striker will be expected to make up for Anelka’s fall in running rhythm too.

  

Inter Village  Tourneys Attract Crowds,Not  League Matches 

Crowds at a final in Raia.Not even  a few hundred attend the I League derby ...

All eyes were focused on the I League after the success of the Indian Super League. Many in the footballing world expected the water shed in the spectator response to end. With three Goan teams- Salgaocar FC,Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa-at least a stir was expected. Nothing happened. In the end, it was clear the crowd response to football in Goa has turned into a scarce commodity.

The crowds came in thousands to support FC Goa. Amidst football lovers there were ladies and children. Families turned up with flags, team jerseys and all the marketing paraphernalia available. For sure, not all were football lovers. There were many who understood little of the game. Yet, they were all there for the love of Goa. Forca (Power) Goa. FC Goa meant that for every supporter.

Surely , there were three teams in the I League from Goa .That they did not represent a composite Goa was evident during all the games . From January to May –right through the tournament- not once did we see more than a thousand spectators? Sadly, the most vociferous spectators were from the outstation teams. There were loud fans from Bengaluru and Bengal. Goans could be heard whimpering on occasions.

From the two tournaments-the ISL and the I league- it is evident that the clubs have no fan base in Goa. Gone are the days of the past. And, the past cannot be recreated in today’s football. The players are different. The passion for the game is been replaced by passion for money. Money is important. How important? That’s a line our players never learnt to draw when money came pouring in. This is the cauldron one has to get in to understand why the stands in the stadiums are empty.

“When I was thirty three I was taught by a foreign coach how to stand to receive the ball. Just imagine what I would have been as a player had I been taught that when I was six.”  A former international player once said. Our players were not technically superior then. Yet, they drew crowds because they played with passion for football and not money. That time, we lamented our stadiums were small.

Emphasis on grass root football has been understood late and has hence been started pretty late by most. So has been the use by of social media. We say, Goa is the hub of football. Goa may have contributed with some great footballers. But the hub is where the crowd is. And the crowd is still in Bengal and now Bengaluru. Thousands throng the stadiums for ordinary matches. Derby day means over 50,000.

Grass root football has started late in Bengal and social media has yet to bite them hard. Yet, they come because they love their clubs. It is a love that has not withered. It is still passed down through generations. This is happening in Bengal. Not in Goa. The old in Goa still talk about football. They don’t see it anymore. The young, are going the other way.

There have been people in Goa who have spent millions on football. Dempo, Salgaocar, Churchill,Sesa Goa, Parkot , Bandekar, Peter Vaz (there must be some more ) are people whose financial contribution to the game can never be forgotten. As said, money is what curry is to rice. It has been pouring in. It’s hard to come these days. Yet, it is coming. Hopefully, it will be spent in the way it will make the fans coming back again.

Jindal steel is spending money on football in Bengaluru. Football is not nascent to Bengaluru. However, it is how Jindal is putting the money in that is making a difference. And, it is a big difference. Big enough to keep us Goans quiet for a while. There, the coach talks because he has the budget and their marketing does the rest. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand this.

Goa still has three teams in the League- though two are in one division and the third is in another. That does not make any difference as Dempo SC will surely bounce back with style and a new rhetoric. After all, it was Shrinivas Dempo who sang the lullaby to FC Goa. It was heard by all Goans and it will not be forgotten for long.

The permutation if the I League is scrapped for the ISL:

1: It will be stupid to have two Goan teams in the ISL as that will only lead to dividing the Goan crowd. This is not good for the State or the sport.

2: With the present ISL structure, only a few Goans will get a chance to be in the team.

3: To be one of the few, one will have to work not just hard but very hard. In short, the best will survive. And, the best do not come with rhythm and rhyme only. Hard work and dedication.

It is like going back to the old days. It was in the old days that our stadiums were packed.

Teams in Goa are facing financial problems.  A league cannot be scrapped because the fans in some States have gone morose. At the moment, the grassroots eggs are being incubated by the teams in the I League and not the ISL. The essence is the grassroots.

Like most things, football in India has got into a ticking frame. Patience helps when waiting for the eggs to hatch. Football in Goa was taken on an administrative spin by a few who did not understand. But some men’s folly does not make us all fools. Let us hear the frame ticking louder!