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.