18 Goans in ISL Loop

Eighteen Goan boys have been looped in by seven of the eight teams in the Indian Super league(ISL)  for the 2015 season. Obviously, home team FC Goa steers clear with seven players in their ranks. Mumbai City FC with former Sporting Clube de Goa coach Oscar Bruzone as assistant manager have picked up five players. The rest are scattered amongst Atletico de Kolkota, Kerala Blasters, Delhi Dynamos and Chenayin FCE.

Eight midfielders, five strikers; three defenders and two goalkeepers have been picked up by the seven clubs in the ISL. North East United is the only team in the ISL not to have a Goan in the squad.

Dempo Sports Club has eleven players with a bulk of them readying themselves to don the FC Goa jerseys in this edition of the ISl. Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa who preferred to wait last year have contributed sizeably in this edition. As disclosed to The Goan, prior to the auction and draft, Mumbai City FC zeroed in on five players this year- three from Sporting Clube de Goa.

From the twenty one vying to find a place in the starting eleven, three did particularly well last year-Cavin Lobo , Romeo Fernandes and Denzil Franco. Denzil was injured in Atletico de Kolkata’s clash with FC Goa  and did not play thereafter. Romeo Fernandes sparked occasionally but it was Cavin Lobo who was long remembered for his two scintillating goals-one scored against FC Goa.

Denzil Franco has been declared fit. But, his team Atletico bid heavily for Rino Anto and won him bidding 80 lakhs. And, Rino plays in the position Denzil Franco plays-right back. Here is going to be a tussle for the starting eleven.

Denzil has been undergoing rehabilitation in Goa and kolkata . He is aware the sailing is going to be tough and is determined to weather the odds despite the pricepaid for Anto (Rs 90,00,000). “I know they had difficulties last year despite my injury and most probably they wanted to avoid a similar fate this time. It is up to me now to prove that their wait during my recuperation was worth it,’ stated Denzil to The Goan.

Joining Denzil and Anto will be Salgaocar FC’s Gabriel Fernandes. Definitely the most reliable of players selected during the draft, Gabriel proved in the I League his physical and mental prowess’s were being harnessed for a professional set up. If anything, Gabriel will be seen a lot this season for his team. He is steps ahead of the other players from Goa.

It is too early to say much about the rest of the Goan players making their debut in the ISL. A lot will depend on how they maintain their fitness levels and how they fit into their foreign coaches strategies. For once, they will not be able to say they are victims of bias.

The movement of Goan players

Strikers:

Gabriel Fernandes from Dempo SC to Mumbai City FC

Romeo Fernandes from Dempo SC to FC Goa

Joaquim Abranches from Dempo Sc to FC Goa

Victorino Fernandes  from Sporting Clube de Goa to FC Goa

Mandar Rao Dessai  from Dempo SC to FC Goa

Midfielders:

Cavin Lobo from East Bengal to Kerala Blasters

Peter Carvalho from Dempo Sc to Kerala Blasters

Anthony Barbosa from Salgaocar FC to Chenayin FC

Pratesh Shirodkar from Sporting Clube de Goa to Mumbai City FC

Lenny Rodrigues from Dempo SC to FC Pune City

Francis Fernandes from Dempo SC to Delhi Dynamos

Clifford Miranda from Dempo SC to Atletico de Kolkata

Brandon Fernandes from Sporting Clube de Goa to Mumbai City FC

DEFENDERS:

Augustin Fernandes from Salgaocar FC to Atletico de Kolkata

Rowilson Rodrigues from Dempo SC to Mumbai City FC

Nicolau Colaco from Salgaocar FC to FC Goa

GOALKEEPERS:

Laximikant Kattimani from Dempo SC to FC Goa

Albino Gomes from Salgaocar FC to  FC Goa.