Tilak,Fatorda Stadiums Out of Bounds For Coming I League

With Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) all set to meet FIFA requirements- for Goa to be selected as one of the six cities for the  FIFA 2017 Under 17 World Cup- the2015/2016 I League matches will have to be held either at GFA’s Duler stadium or some other  ground in Goa. “The Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda and the Tilak maidan in Vasco will not be available for this years I League,” stated SAG Executive Director Sandip Jacques.

The I league is tentatively scheduled to start in January 2016. “No dates have been finalised but the I League should start somewhere in January,” stated I League CEO Sunandho Dhar. “Like last season, teams will organise their home matches ,” added Dhar.

Goa has two teams in the I League-Salgaocar Football Club and Sporting Clube de Goa.  Surprisingly club officials of the two teams are unaware that the two stadiums will not be available.

“I don’t think adding two dressing rooms will keep the stadium out of our bounds. We are planning to have our matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Fatorda,” stated Sporting CEO Victor Fernandes. “We have decided to use the Tilak maidan for our home games,” said Salgaocar FC secretary Adlear  D’cruz.

“FIFA has asked that we provide two additional dressing rooms in the west stand. Since the Fatorda stadium is used by FC Goa for its home matches, we have decided to start work only after December 23. We require around five to six months to finish the work. So, the ground will not be available,” stated Jacques.

Tilak maidan,Vasco  faces a similar problem. It has been set aside for FC Goa’s practise ground to start .The ground has been shortlisted as a practise ground for the World Cup too.“ Tilak maidan has been earmarked as a practise ground for the FIFA World Cup. Repair works to the tune of around 2.5 crores are required. It will not be available for the I League, too,’ explained Jacques.

The Duler ground was used for the I League in 2012/2013. The crowds came in numbers in that year. In comparison, the spectator participation was sparse, rather negligible, this year.

“Provided all the stake holders are there to support us, we are ready to take everyone along to make the ISL and the World Cup memorable events in terms of participation. FC Goa had a magical effect on crowd response. We cannot ask them to go out of the State. The I League was held in Duler before,” stated SAG’s Sandip Jacques.

FC Goa Tickets To Be Dearer This ISL

The tickets for FC Goa matches at the Pandit  Jawharlal Nehru stadium Fatorda are going to be dearer this season. After the crores being pumped, the returns have been pretty negligible. Hence, the rise in prices of tickets. Though The Goan is yet to ascertain the quantum of raise, the hike is inevitable according to sources linked with the team and ISL.

“ Close to two crores were grossed from ticket sales last year. The ticket selling companies and other costs had to be deducted. The turnover was not much. FC Goa  intend making atleast four crores, in the minimum, this season. They can do so only by increasing the price of tickets,” disclosed our source.

“The Fatorda stadium has a fixed capacity. The intake capacity of spectators cannot be increased in anyway. Increasing the price of tickets is the only option,” justified our source. 19,800 is the capacity of the stadium. Initially last year, tickets were priced at Rs 100,200,300 and 2,500. It increased to 200,400,480 and 3,000 as FC Goa reached the semi-finals. Though not all tickets were initially sold-plenty were initially distributed free to children- bedlam started when the team reached the semi-finals. People , for the first time in Goa after a long , long time had to spend the night outside the stadium for the ticket counters to open the next day. Yet , there were many unhappy as the tickets got sold out immediately.

“We are in the process of deciding the ticketing strategy. It is too early to say anything now. We will announce about the tickets at the right time, “stated  Rahul Raichand FC Goa’s marketing man in Mumbai. “Email me your questions and I will get back to you in time,” he stated. At the time of going to press, despite reminders, there was no response from him.

Every club is allowed to spend Rs 21 crores on players from the team. “FC Goa will not be spending the full amount but the overheads are many. The teams expenditure can easily touch 35 crores this season,” said a source closely linked with the running modalities of ISL.

All TV money collected by ISL is distributed to IMG, Star Sports and the clubs.”TV money collected by ISL, after deducting all expenses, is   supposed to be distributed to clubs . Last year no  amount  could be distributed to the  clubs as it was reported that cost was more than  the TV collection . It was the first time spending frenzy  that did not surprise many in ISL. “ The clubs could not be paid the money promised to them,” stated our source from Mumbai. “Initially each club was expected to be paid around Rs five crores,” stated our source reluctantly.

All costs and payments are closely monitored by the people running ISL. For example, Chetri does not get rs 1.5 crores from Mumbai City. “ Chetri is paid Rs 75 lakhs by  Bengaluru FC and the franchise that has bought him in the auction (Mumbai FC) pays him the remaining 80 lakhs.So he gets Rs 1.5 crores in total. So long as it does not cross 1.5 crores,” stated our source while explaining the inner workings of ISL.

“Whatever happens, the owners will surely see that the fan is not hurt. FC Goa is the club of every Goan , as far as the owners are concerned. They are convinced of it.But , the logistics cannot be forgotten. I am sure the fans will understand this too,” stated a FC Goa source close to the owners of the team.

DSYA Under Prabhu Desai Scraps HSS  Football League

The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) under VM Prabhu Dessai is discontinuing the Higher Secondary School (HSS) football league started by former director Y .B Tavde during the last academic year. The League was conceptualised at  the insistence of Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) member secretary and Goa Football Association (GFA) president Elvis Gomes.

Sixty boy teams and twenty girls teams participated in the league which commenced on September 22 and concluded on November 16.

“The PE teachers were not at all happy. Poor organisation and refreshments not being served properly were some of the main reasons. PE teachers kept complaining even six months after the league was over. This in itself meant there was something seriously wrong. So, it was decided to cancel the league,” stated DSYA director VM Prabhu Dessai.

The minutes of the meeting held with HSS PE teachers on 29/4/2015 (copy available with THE GOAN) states: “Some of the PE teachers informed that the Football U-19 League match Tournament was a failure as it consumed a lot of time and objected to conduct the same this year. Other PT teachers also supported him. Further, he also added that amount towards the travelling is not yet paid to the Higher Secondary Schools and that the refreshments were not properly given to the players. Further he requested DSYA to conduct an inquiry in the said matter. DSYA assured the PE teachers that the said tournament will not be organized this year due to the reasons explained above.” Thirty PE teachers attended the meeting but surprisingly the minutes does not name the “he” it refers to .

“You can call up Chetan Kavlekar who is the president of Physical Education Teachers Association (PETA) and ask him,” said Prabhu Dessai when asked to name some PE teachers against the League system.

“I never objected to the HSS League or said it should be scrapped. There were some problems but those were teething problems. If the league was organised badly it is because his department organised it. Why is Prabhu Dessai trying to involve me, “stated  Chetan when THE GOAN contacted him. “ There were some problems. Please contact Oswald da costa as he is aware of them and he will be in a better position to explain . But I never objected ,” added Chetan who is the PE teacher of Dempo HSS of Commerce.

“We were upset at the DSYA meeting because of the number of games being introduced by the DSYA this year. Thirty seven games have been introduced. This is too much. How do they expect us to compete in all these games? Why are so many games being pushed down our throats? We were the people who pushed for the league system. We were surprised to see some PE teachers against the league when the director called for the meeting.” said  Oswald da Costa, PE teacher from Rosary HSS, Navelim .

“Referees were not cleared their dues, transport was not paid to the schools and the refreshments provided were not up to the mark. I understand these problems are bound to happen. These are hiccups of the organisation. But, it was a nice opportunity for all the girls and boys. Whatever the DSYA does, football has to be winner,” stated Oswald.

“As far as I am concerned, anybody who understands sports will vouch for the league format instead of the knock out system. It is always the league that matters in the development of sports. Football is no different. Everyone supported the league. Even the headmasters and that is  so many teams participated. That is the testimony, “stated Elvis Gomes.

The first HSS football league was organised by DSYA in collaboration of GFDC and GFA. THE GOAN were the sponsors.

A bubble bursts. Many who enjoyed the football on display never thought they were watching a bubble!

When Lume Pereira had the last word on football

“Herbert gets the ball from Dionisio and after dodging past Arnold sends a nice long through pass to Francis who is chasing the ball. Francis runs faster than the Salgaocar defender, controls the ball with his left leg and unleashes a powerful right footer. Goalkeeper Brahmanand stretches himself to his right and punches to ball for a corner. What a save! When it looked like the ball was going to enter the net, the Salgaocar goalkeeper come up to his sides defence. As Herbert prepares to take the corner for Dempo, I hand you over to my friend Benau for further commentary in Konkani……………Devborem korum, Lume…….”

Football commentary was a must in the seventies when seats at playgrounds were scarce.  In those days, there were no stadias. With no TV, the commentary provided by All India Radio (AIR) was the only way ardent football fans could conjure how their favourite clubs and players performed.

Goa in those days had two famous commentators- Francisco Lume Pereira in English and Jeremias Benaum in Konkani. “For further commentary in Konkani, I hand you over to my friend Benaum “, were the famed words of Lume when he handed over the mike to Benaum . And then, the tattle would continue in Konkani.

Lume started commentary in 1972. He came to be selected as a local commentator by virtue of his excellent sports reportage for the only English daily published from Goa-The Navhind Times where he was a part-time reporter for sports and paid per column centimetre, his pocket money. That was the time AIR was introducing its sports service in India on their National hook up.  It was started on November 19, 1972 on Indira Gandhi’s birthday when the Santosh Trophy was held in Goa. That is when Lume met with the then famous journalists from Mumbai ATP Sarathy of the Indian Express and K Bhaskaran from the Times of India. The trio formed a set up that brought football live into the minds of listeners- when travelling to the ground was difficult.

The Bandodkar Gold Cup, The Police Cup, the Nationals and even international tournaments – when the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda was built- were broadcast live by AIR. Those were the days when football was feverish.

Commentary on radio is different from what we hear on TV. The former recreates the magic on the field in one’s mind while the latter is restricted to comments on what we see. “I was used to listening to football commentary on Portugal radio. Football commentary from Portugal was famous in those days. I adapted the style in English’,” avers Lume, recalling his good old days with the mike in hand.

When a goal was scored it was said: Gooooal in the BBC commentary broadcast in those days. But, when a goal was scored in Goa Lume said: “it was theeeere”.But in India , no one would understand what was meant by ‘it was theeeeere’. That was Lume’s signature

“Some matches were a real challenge. The high speed games were demanding.  In those days, many teams fielded players with neither names nor numbers on their jerseys. Identification of players was difficult. We had to depend on the styles of players to recognise them. The Santosh Trophy semi-finals between Goa and Bengal was hair raising. Keeping up with the tempo of the game was a task. Goa lost. But, the game was one of my favourites,” recollects Lume. “But, not all matches were exciting. There were matches that were a bore. Translating stupidities on the field can be a problem,” admits Lume.

“Andrew from Vasco Sports Club was a player I liked to watch. During those days, Vasco SC had the largest fan following. The next team was Panvel,” recollects Lume.

“Goan public has lost the passion for football. They find that the teams are not exhibiting the football they like to watch. This is the problem. Why would you go to watch a game where the football played is different from what you think it should be? After watching some much of good football from the world over on TV, the fans expect more on the field in Goa. The standard of football is so miserable. This is the main reason why, there are no fans in the stands today,” remarks Lume Pereira.

“There has to be a revolutionary concept to promote football if we expect the crowds to come back. The ISL (Indian Soccer League) is the best thing that has happened to football in India. The ISL, it looks like, is going the IPL way. The IPL has been good for cricket. So, I think football is in for better days,” states Lume.

“Football is not in a road block. In India in general and Goa in particular it  is going through some hiccups. It is a sport that cannot be killed because it is a  world sport . If football dies in India, India will lose. Not football, “opines Lume.

“Football is life, the rest is mere details,” Lume says in conclusion.

Mukherjee has a vision that will enable FC Goa develop football from the roots

A lot of undue criticism was being plastered on FC Goa for not having started their grass root football programme as mandated by ISL. As it looks now, FC Goa preferred to wait, think properly and then draw plans on a programme that would benefit not just football but themselves too. Fortunately, this planning was entrusted to P.K Mukherjee. P.K does not just understand football-he knows. And, that will be the difference that will demarcate FC Goa’s youth development programmes and the others going on in Goa.

P.K , for starters, is from Bengal. He was the man behind Sesa FA.  He is now advisor, the head honcho of FC Goa- the man who has offered to work without pay because of his commitment to soccer. “Besides learning football, as human beings we need to have values. We have to be humble in any sphere of life.”  reasons P.K  when asked to present the thinking behind youth development in a gamut.

“Apart from having football development centres in rural Goa , we are planning to start an academy. Ours will be an academy that keeps central to the theme the ethos of Goa. We had a rule in the Sesa FA that only Goans will be allowed. That was because we thought then that if we kept it open for children from all over India, there would be cultural differences. The Reliance academy in Mumbai (that is open to all) is facing the problems now,” stated PK Mukherjee.

“Teamwork does not come from the field. It comes from outside. Hence it is very important to stay together. Team work is about anticipation and it comes from being together. How does a father anticipate what his sibling is going to do and vice versa? The same is true in football,” argues Mukherjee.

The Dempo Football Academy is not a dream. It is going to fructify. But , as Mukherjee sees it, the academy  will be economy driven.

“Skill with the ball is essential but more important is skill without the ball. In a match a player gets around three to four minutes with the ball. The player is anticipating and reacting, the remaining time. It is important to develop a player’s skill without the ball. Life skills,” says Mukherjee.

“ The FC Goa youth development programme is on. It has been on for a while. But, we have decided to be cautious. There are sixteen schools and we are thinking of aligning with more schools. Coaches have been appointed. Our coaches cannot fulfil general managerial obligations. I heard Katz Naidoo from South Africa can do that. So, he will be weaning our coaches in that direction,” stated Mukherjee. Our coaches are A license coaches. So they will complement and supplement each other,” stated Mukherjee.

“We are optimising on developing an association with the parents of the kids. This is important because in the end, we are looking at youngsters and their parents play a very important role. We cannot take the role of parents. It will always be child and parent first,” confesses Mukherjee.

“Nutrition is important to be physically fit but it cannot change our DNA frame. We are born the way we are because of our DNA. That’s the way we will be. Look at players from Barcelona. They are what they are. Players cannot be huge by eating. People think by bringing in nutritionist our DNA frame can change. That is wrong. But good food is required” advises Mukherjee .

Victorino joins the FC Goa samba bandwagon 

Victorino Fernandes will be the new Goan sway added to the FC Goa samba that is to start in the Hero India Super League (HISL) on October 3. Attempts were made for Brandon Fernandes but failed. Cavin Lobo , who made a mark with Atletico de Kolkata last season, was over looked.

“I was hoping FC Goa would pick me up. I at least thought they would try and negotiate . I was sad initially. Life has to go on. I know I will give my best to Kerala Blasters,” stated Cavin to THE GOAN.

“We thought of Brandon Fernandes as our first under-23 player. Since we did not get him we settled on Mongkhoseim Haokip who happens to be the highest goal scorer in the I League,” stated FC Goa advisor P.K Mukherjee. “ The ISL rules allows us to buy a goalkeeper later. That is why we did not go for a goalkeeper today,” added Mukherjee. 

Sporting Clube de Goa’s Victorino and Bengaluru FC’s  Mongkhoseim Haokip  now join  Romeo Fernandes and Joaquim Abranches in FC Goa’s set up now being deliberated by Zico.

This HISL players draft saw eight Goan footballers step into the playing fields as they were picked up by various other franchises of the HISL.

Salgaocar Football Clubs stopper Augustin Fernandes – who has learnt and grown tremendously under former manager Derrick Perreira- signed for Atletico de Kolkata . Augustin will most probably play along Goa’s Denzil Franco in the defence. Denzil was out injured for the major part of last year’s league.

“ It will be nice to have another  Goan  playing alongside me. I know Rino Anto has been brought for ninety lakhs. I will work hard to retain my place in the team,” stated Denzil when asked how he looks at another right back being bought for such a price.

Pratesh Shirodkar,Brandon Fernandes and Albino Gomes are three other Goans picked up by Mumbai  City FC.  “ I know Goans play good football. There will always be a link between me and Goa ,” stated Mumbai City FC assistant coach Oscar Bruzon.  Pratesh is from Sporting Clube while Brandon is expected to sign for them again after the HISL.

Albino Gomes has yet to start for the senior Salgaocar team but has been donning the gloves  at the junior levels. Keegan Perreira and Peter Carvalho are the two others  from the State .

From indications available, the FC Goa goose is set to be cooked. Though he was present for the auction , his participation was minimal. “ The strategy was developed by his Indian team. He did not have much to do with the selection of the players,” stated a senior FC Goa source present at the auction.

Despite Doubts,Denzil Franco is Optimistic Of His Colleagues In The HISL

Denzil Franco has impressed on the field as a player and off- field as a human being. He started his football career without much glitz. However, the glamour came through his play. He last player for Churchill Brothers in the I League. Things started to change rapidly for the tight back after Churchill were shown the door out of the I league. In a state of limbo , Denzil waited patiently for the outcome of Churchills appeals. When it seemed it was lost , Denzil jumped boat and signed for Atletico Club de Kolkata.

The journey to Calcutta was not new to Denzil. The journey to the HISL team was or may have been – in new turf with a new club. As he readied himself for his new club , Denzil was selected to represent India in the international friendlies. As usual , India did poorly. Atleast this time , Koevermans realised he had to go.

Denzil does not get distracted by such events. He realises he has to remain focused. His  attention is on football for Atletico Club de Kolkata now. “ I have had three sessions with the team at the Salt Lake stadium so far. They have been electrifying times. I am really beginning to get the feel of the stadium and most important the supporters out here. It is a nice experience. It is something different that I am experiencing now,” confesses Denzil.

Antonio lopes is the first international coach that Denzil is come to grasp with at the club level. Antonio Lopes is a coach of some credible repute in Europe. Maybe not the type that believes he  can help elevate grass root football. “He is a good coach. He is very disciplined and down to earth.He not only gives us good advise but plenty of confidence. Most importantly , he is a very friendly person,” observed Denzil.

Much hype has been created over the Pires’s , Lunjberg’s etc playing in the HISL. The fact is many are retired players. Players, who have hung their boots. From reports available and watching the FC Goa players at their practise venue, their touch maybe there. But , they are physically raw. They may try and get close to shape. But none will be able to regain full physical fitness. That’s a far cry from the truth.

‘It is nice to play along with high class players. They have got the touch and most of them are match fit .I do not foresee any problems. We have a lot to learn from them,” surmises Denzil.

“ The team has around three good players in each position. So, it is difficult to say whether I will be called up to play or not. All of us are giving our best during the practise sessions. I am giving my best, admits Denzil candidly.