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.