FC Goa To Move Training Base Out Of Goa

FC Goa co-owners Dattaraj V Salgaocar and Shrinivas Dempo with Manager Zico

FC Goa are thinking of having their training sessions –tentatively scheduled  to start from September 3- in  Goa and for some time  in India or in some nearby country  due to the incessant monsoons around this time of the year, disclosed an FC Goa source close to team manager Zico . As reported in The Goan , Zico is to arrive on “ September 2 and practise is to start the next day”.

“Practise sessions will be held at the Tilak maidan but because of the rains in September, we are looking at alternate venues in India and abroad too. The financial logistics are being worked out,” stated our source.

“The conditions in Europe are different to the conditions in India. Players have to acclimatise to local conditions. Even the European players have to acclimatise to our conditions. So, what is the point of going to Europe?” asked our source while ruling out the possibility of the team going to Europe for pre-season training.

“Hotel accommodation is costly in Goa compared to other parts of India or some neighbouring countries. The ground facilities available will be a major factor in determining the other training location,” emphasised our source.

The FC Goa team is now almost set with the signing of the other Indian players out of the draft.  Three foreign players are left to be signed as the ISL allows nine foreign players to be signed and six are already roped in.

“Zico may choose the other three foreigners or it could be that the owners refer three names to Zico,” disclosed a senior FC Goa source  closely linked to  the three main owners of the team- Dattaraj V Salgaocar,  Shrinivas Dempo and Venugopal Dhoot. Cricketer Virat Kohli is the fourth individual who has a financial stake in the team- he is supposed to have contributed more than five crores last year.

According to ISL rules, every franchise is allowed to have nine foreign players and a minimum of fifteen Indian players. Every franchise can have a minimum of 22 players or a maximum of 26 players in a squad. As per the rules last year, players were to be given five star accommodations. The same has been amended this time. Foreign as well as Indian players can now be provided four star accommodations or be kept in serviced apartments. “The idea is to keep them close so that they get to know each other. As of now, arrangements have been made to keep them in a five star hotel in the city,” stated our source.