Hugo Boumous is gone ; the story of Sergio Lobera’s sacking does not leave FC Goa

Hugo Boumous – the star player of FC Goa during the 2019-2020 season- will be joining former boss Sergio Lobera at Mumbai City FC for ISL 7 and the reunion has rekindled the unanswered question: why did FC Goa sack Sergio when it was clear the team was set to win the League and the knock out titles.

Hugo was the star of the season and because of his stellar performance – till the League title was won – and was given an extension till 2022 with a buyout clause of Rs 1.6 Crore which is being met by Mumbai City FC.

With Hugo leaving, FC Goa is without Ahmed Jahouh – the star of the 2018-2019 season – and Mourtada Fall , the rock from behind  since he joined the club. Season 2020-2021 would have looked to start on a wobble for FC Goa if the pandemic has not left the organisers of the 7th edition still stitching ways to get the tournament started in its original format.

The pandemic in India has kept all in India guessing. The ISL has decided that the tournament will be held either in Goa or Kerala. But with travel restrictions still in place, it is still not clear whether  teams will have to field only Indian players this season or just one or two foreign players and the onus of coaching will be on Indian coaches.

When Sergio and the technical team left FC Goa last season, the first impression tried to be portrayed by the Club was that the parting was mutual until Sergio and his team released a statement that painted a different picture- one with many dots.

With FC Goa set to win at least one of the two titles, the fans and many in the State were left askance with the timing; letting rumour mills work over time and the silence fuelling it further. In the end, FC Goa won the League title but not the knock out tournament which in the words of President Akshay Tandon would have also kept the “accountants” happy.

In the end, FC Goa won Rs 50 lakhs and the right to represent India in the AFC Champions League by winning the League and lost Rs eight Crore. They got the pie but not the prize.

Sergio, according to one FC Goa source, was asked to leave because he did not confirm to the teams policy of nurturing talent. The management has a point on this and their former player Liston Colaco is proof.

Liston was giving minutes to play on the field by Sergio- in the three odd years he was with the team- and ended up scoring three goals in two games for Odisha FC when he went out on a transfer. Liston was a stark example of Sergio wanting to bank on stars and unable to harness stars.

There were many occasions when FC Goa was leading by three or more goals and Sergio never thought it fit to strengthen his bench. Liston was just one case. There were others who were there with little hope of getting a chance.

“Players complained to the management about his style of play. There were complaints in November and again complaints in January,” disclosed another source. Yet, FC Goa kept going because the results were proving Sergio right.

Every club wants to win and it is the role of a coach to conjure those wins. Sergio did it by getting the boys score many goals and football is about goals.

“Sergio wanted an extension of contract before the season could get over and he was not getting one. A coach likes to negotiate when he is at his best and he felt it was his turn and the management did not think so. Yet, he did not allow that to hamper the way the team was playing,” stated a source close to Sergio before his exit from Goa.

“The real trigger for his sacking could be the two complaints received against Sergio during two away games. The management took what happened seriously and decided to actually sacrifice even winning the titles,” stated an FC Goa source.

“I cannot disclose what happened. But, the matter hastened the decision of the management, “stated the source.

 

 

 

 

 

GCA upgrading indoor practice facility; readies pitch for Panjim Gymkhana

As restrictions to the Lockdown were lifted in phases,  Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has been concentrating on upgrading its infrastructure at the Indoor practise facility at the GCA Academy in Porvorim and helping Panjim Gymkhana ready its new pitch.

“The Executive Committee of GCA  , according to secretary Vipul Phadke, after checking the facilities at the Indoor practise facility in Porvorim , has decided to upgrade the same with new nets and new pitches. “ We have already checked the facility with our consultants and tenders for works have already been issued. We expect to eselect the candiates and start work soon,” Vipul told this newspaper .

“The work is expected to approximately cost between Rs 25 lakhs to 30 lakhs,” he added.

The Indoor facility in Porvorim is primarily used by the players during the monsoons and the technical and financial bids were opened on June 9. “ We should have the palce ready  by next month. We have devised plans on how to get players to come and practise in groups . However, we are aawaiting approval from BCCI in relation to the Standard Operating Procedure(SOP)to be adopted  ,” said Vipul.

The GCA has completed  the cricket pitch for Panjim Gymkhana  with whom they had signed an MOU during the reign of former President Chetan Desai. GCA  enlisted the work of Suryakant Naik- who curates the GCA pitch- and Panaji Gymkhana  is set to  see cricket matches in Campal once COVID-19 is a story of the past.

“GCA promised to contribute a sum of Rs one crore to Panjim Gymkhana towards  the construction of their ground and we are sticking to the promise. The pitch is ready now and it is upto them to decide when they want to open the facility,” stated Vipul.

“Panjim Gymkhana is the oldest crcket ground in Goa where players who represented India came, played and left with warm tributes to our cricketing facilities. We have always had warm ties with GCA with most mebers of GCA  being members of Panjim Gymkhana at some time. The pitch that has been prepared by GCA is the fruit of that association,” said Narahar Thakur , member of the Executive committee of Panjim Gymkhana  who has been appointed to liaison with GCA.

“There is a visible affection between Panjim Gymkhana and GCA and it will always bloom,” added Thakur.

“ Once the pitch is ready and all restrictions are lifted, the Panjim Gymkhana hopes to host some Ranji Trophy matches, start a cricket academy  and bring back to the people of Panjim the opportunity to watch top class cricket back and produce top class crirketers in the city,” said Thakur.

GCA has also been distributing cricket kits to children from South and North Goa.  Around 40 odd cricket kits have been distibuited to children who have participated in GCA tournaments during the season that just concluded.

Each kit consisted of three bats,four batting pads;four batting gloves;four abdominal guards;four thigh pads; three helmets; and one wicket keeping glove.

“ We are waiting for BCCI guidelines after which we will concentrate on areas where risk is zero and get cricket running by abiding by all the norms regarding COVID-19 set by the government,” stated  Suraj Lotlikar, president of GCA.