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.
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