Gaur has turned its back on ISL 3

The Gaur has turned its back on ISL 3. ‘Enough is enough. Take me back home,’ was its final bellow as ATK scored the winner in the final minutes of the match at the Nehru stadium in Fatorda.

FC Goa did not start as favourites to win the match. A draw would have earned them a good and it could have been termed a good miracle had they won. As the referee blew the whistle to mark the end of FC Goa’s penultimate game the inevitable had dawned- late starters finish last.

The story appeared scripted as early as the third minute. Joffre- one influential foreign component in the team- had the best opportunity to score. He missed and team FC Goa never took off after that.

The first half was a half that saw ATK’s Postiga get off with an yellow on a tackle that normally warrants a red and FC Goa’s Laximikant Kattimani stopping everything that was thrown at the Goa citadel. His performance not only kept the lads from Kolkata opening Fc Goa up but also pulled wool over his initial hiccups he started the tournament with.

ATK were all over Goa in the first half. They could have started scoring early and could have continued scoring after they netted the first. Kattimani, the horizontal and the FC Goa stopped all such plans.

The boys from Kolkata played neat, attractive football and were good in recovery. There was skill in anticipation in their display. They alternated between flanks and after seeing Kattimani at his best tried to fox him with intelligent placements. The Gaur behind the bar did not surrender – it was to be his day and he was bent on seeing no one else enjoy the party.

The FC Goa citadel caved in the 27^th minute. Spanish Belencoso directed his header with power and placement and this time there was little Kattimani or ,for that matter, most goalkeeper could have done.

ATK kept attacking and it was only after the equaliser by Mandar Rao that the game saw two teams in a battle for the ball.

Mandar started quietly. Nervously. He did not make chances not did he try a single attempt at goal. His first try bounced past ATK’s goalkeeper Debjit Majumder and the Nehru stadium began to sizzle with expectations.

Zico brought in Robin Singh for defender Keenan Almeida and Raju Gaikwad for Debrata Roy. A few minutes later Julio Cesar replaced Trinidade.  It did not help significantly. FC Goa rallied their game on the buzz created by the spectators while ATK used the counter attacks with intelligence.

In the first counter attack, the lads from Kolkata failed to beat Laxmikant. In the second, they beat him in numbers and in the manner the ball was tapped into the goal. Once again, there was nothing he could outnumbered by the physical presence of the ATK lads.

FC Goa is out of ISL. It would have been a sad day had they been out without fighting the odds stacked against them. They started with self-inflicted injuries but gradually started emerging stronger. There were times when the team was bereft of players and yet the will to fight did not flicker.

There have been and there were a couple of incidences where refereeing could have been better. However, to take it all with a smile is the charm of football. The Goan gaur is tired. Let it rest for ISL 4.

Demonetisation stretches hand to sports field

Withdrawal limits imposed after the demonetisation of currency is affecting the participation of school children in Goa for the National School Games undergoing around the country. With banks unable to allow withdrawals outside the prescribed limits the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) is finding it difficult to access funds and are sending teams if parents can provide the funds.

The swimming teams that are supposed to leave for Rajkot are going at the cost of parents who have been promised that part of the expenditure will be refunded later or through payments into the children’s accounts.

“Most of the parents of children are well off and have agreed to bear the expenditure incurred for their respective kids. Some of the children have made arrangements to take their children by flight,” stated a source in the DSYA.

The participation of Goa’s under- 14 Girls football team and the baseball team has come under a cloud of doubt as the DSYA have yet to ascertain from the parents of the children if they can bear the initial expenses of their children.

The Goan football team is scheduled to leave to participate in the football School Nationals in Madhya Pradesh on November 25. With no access to money, the DSYA has asked the football coach to call a meeting of the footballers selected and brief them of the prevailing situation.

“The money for these games have been sanctioned and allotted. It is not possible to withdraw the money and give it to the children. Whatever has been earmarked for each child will be transferred to the child’s accounts after the Games,” added our sources.

The DSYA normally pays each student a sum of Rs 50 as diet allowance and Rs 50 as travelling allowance for the pre- National Coaching camp. A child is then paid Rs 300 per day as Travelling allowance and Rs 300 per day during the nationals . Rs 200 during the nationals is earmarked as food allowance. Each player is provided with a kit and an additional Rs 100 travelling allowance to come and go back home from the station.

“Recently , the Goa teams were sent for the Kho-Kho and Kabaddi nationals. They teams were given Rs 10,000 as the banks could not provide us with more money. The money has been sanctioned but cash is not available.” stated a source in DSYA.

“”We take pre receipts and bank details of all participants and the money is later deposited in their accounts. However, they need money for their food and with this situation even parents are finding it difficult to give their students an advance. Normally, parents provide the money first. It is not happening this time as the rules apply to all,” added our source.

“The football team has been called for a meeting on Monday. The problem is going to be discussed with the players and their parents and a call will be taken,” stated our source.

“A swimming team of over seventy boys and girls in to leave for Rajkot. Normally a majority of children come from affluent families. However, availability of currency is affecting all and that is why we do not know what will happen to the swimmers. Travelling is no problem as we have a private agency that deals with the booking of tickets. Money to spend on meals is,” summed up our source.

A plan best understood by Zico

FC Goa started with Plan A. Sixty minutes into the game , they switched to Plan B and nearly romped home with three points on an evening that Mumbai City FC preferred to sew when they could have tailored – with the numerical advantage of fit players- a win at the Nehru stadium in Fatorda.

A point for each may be a good result for the lads from Mumbai but it has not blinded FC Goa’s hope of semi-final berth. With two home and an away game left , the vision may be blurry for FC Goa . However, with Zico providing the providence, the story cannot be submitted as yet.

The initial plan appeared to be to play ball possession. With Chhetri, Forlan , Norde and Defedrico in form , there was nothing better that could be done but hold and wait to hurt when the chance fell. It did not happen for an hour and it was at this time Zico steered differently.

Zico moved because Miumbai City played sluggish. Their attack lacked nerve and they lost the ball they showed little commitment in getting it back. So, the ball rolled in the midfield with the defenders in both camp giving the strikers little to play around with.

Chhetri was the lone to impress for Mumbai in the first twenty minutes. Thereon , it was a question: are they listening to  angels from Heaven ?

Mumbai City did have a few tries but on all occasions Kattimani made the Bombay Pao Bhaji tasteless. He did not sweat much nor did Amrinder in the rival citadel. This was until Zico threw in three midfielders in place of defenders and FC Goa appeared to be ready for a canter.

Zico started with nine Indian players and the team – with Gregory, Richarlyson and Rafael- kept the boys from Mumbai away from trouble. Argentinian Defedrico had a bad day for Mumbai , yet he lasted sixty odd minutes. Forlan appeared lost and Chhetri who showed good skill initially petered later .

FC Goa appeared content waiting for a decisive break – they did squander a couple of chances – but a win would not have surprised any one.

Both coaches made substitutions but it was Zico three, in quick succession, that kept the crowds at the stadium glued to their seat till the very end. Till the very end, FC Goa was at close distance of scoring. However, it seemed, that not all Brazilians can have the ‘hand of God’.

As the first round of the competition is nearing its end , it is glaringly obvious FC Goa started on the wrong step with the wrong players. Yet, they have moved their cart so far. Elven points from eleven matches is not a bad bag of statistics for a team on a cart with assorted fruits and vegetables. FC Goa will not just need to win the remaining three matches but hope results elsewhere  help push them forward.

At this stage, FC Goa cannot be ruled out because despite the changes and upheavals the team has seen, the master has been constant- Zico. In the first year, when few expected FC Goa to end with grace, Zico caressed them to the semi-finals. The next , as he promised, he took FC Goa to the finals.  He has weathered rough storms and proved he cannot be intimated.

When the referee blew the final whistle yesterday, it looked like Zicos was keeping the samba for the end.