Inter Village  Tourneys Attract Crowds,Not  League Matches 

Crowds at a final in Raia.Not even  a few hundred attend the I League derby ...

All eyes were focused on the I League after the success of the Indian Super League. Many in the footballing world expected the water shed in the spectator response to end. With three Goan teams- Salgaocar FC,Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa-at least a stir was expected. Nothing happened. In the end, it was clear the crowd response to football in Goa has turned into a scarce commodity.

The crowds came in thousands to support FC Goa. Amidst football lovers there were ladies and children. Families turned up with flags, team jerseys and all the marketing paraphernalia available. For sure, not all were football lovers. There were many who understood little of the game. Yet, they were all there for the love of Goa. Forca (Power) Goa. FC Goa meant that for every supporter.

Surely , there were three teams in the I League from Goa .That they did not represent a composite Goa was evident during all the games . From January to May –right through the tournament- not once did we see more than a thousand spectators? Sadly, the most vociferous spectators were from the outstation teams. There were loud fans from Bengaluru and Bengal. Goans could be heard whimpering on occasions.

From the two tournaments-the ISL and the I league- it is evident that the clubs have no fan base in Goa. Gone are the days of the past. And, the past cannot be recreated in today’s football. The players are different. The passion for the game is been replaced by passion for money. Money is important. How important? That’s a line our players never learnt to draw when money came pouring in. This is the cauldron one has to get in to understand why the stands in the stadiums are empty.

“When I was thirty three I was taught by a foreign coach how to stand to receive the ball. Just imagine what I would have been as a player had I been taught that when I was six.”  A former international player once said. Our players were not technically superior then. Yet, they drew crowds because they played with passion for football and not money. That time, we lamented our stadiums were small.

Emphasis on grass root football has been understood late and has hence been started pretty late by most. So has been the use by of social media. We say, Goa is the hub of football. Goa may have contributed with some great footballers. But the hub is where the crowd is. And the crowd is still in Bengal and now Bengaluru. Thousands throng the stadiums for ordinary matches. Derby day means over 50,000.

Grass root football has started late in Bengal and social media has yet to bite them hard. Yet, they come because they love their clubs. It is a love that has not withered. It is still passed down through generations. This is happening in Bengal. Not in Goa. The old in Goa still talk about football. They don’t see it anymore. The young, are going the other way.

There have been people in Goa who have spent millions on football. Dempo, Salgaocar, Churchill,Sesa Goa, Parkot , Bandekar, Peter Vaz (there must be some more ) are people whose financial contribution to the game can never be forgotten. As said, money is what curry is to rice. It has been pouring in. It’s hard to come these days. Yet, it is coming. Hopefully, it will be spent in the way it will make the fans coming back again.

Jindal steel is spending money on football in Bengaluru. Football is not nascent to Bengaluru. However, it is how Jindal is putting the money in that is making a difference. And, it is a big difference. Big enough to keep us Goans quiet for a while. There, the coach talks because he has the budget and their marketing does the rest. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to understand this.

Goa still has three teams in the League- though two are in one division and the third is in another. That does not make any difference as Dempo SC will surely bounce back with style and a new rhetoric. After all, it was Shrinivas Dempo who sang the lullaby to FC Goa. It was heard by all Goans and it will not be forgotten for long.

The permutation if the I League is scrapped for the ISL:

1: It will be stupid to have two Goan teams in the ISL as that will only lead to dividing the Goan crowd. This is not good for the State or the sport.

2: With the present ISL structure, only a few Goans will get a chance to be in the team.

3: To be one of the few, one will have to work not just hard but very hard. In short, the best will survive. And, the best do not come with rhythm and rhyme only. Hard work and dedication.

It is like going back to the old days. It was in the old days that our stadiums were packed.

Teams in Goa are facing financial problems.  A league cannot be scrapped because the fans in some States have gone morose. At the moment, the grassroots eggs are being incubated by the teams in the I League and not the ISL. The essence is the grassroots.

Like most things, football in India has got into a ticking frame. Patience helps when waiting for the eggs to hatch. Football in Goa was taken on an administrative spin by a few who did not understand. But some men’s folly does not make us all fools. Let us hear the frame ticking louder!

Fifty Odd players In The Lurch !

With the closing date-August 30- to register Indian players for the forthcoming ISL approaching, over fifty odd players-quite a few of them Goans will find themselves in the lurch unless some I league teams come to their rescue in the future. The situation is not grim if their pay demands will be realistic.

Dempo Sports Club and JCT. Punjab are two teams in the second division of the I league on the prowl for talent. “We are taking stock of our situation with players. Some of our players are going to join FC Goa soon and I don’t know whether they will be available for the I League. Fitness of the players will have to be checked after the ISL “ stated  Dempo SC coach Mauricio Afonso. “Players are available. We are looking out for some good talent to make it to the I league next season. It is too early to start signing as the second division league starts after the ISL,” stated a former player linked with JCT.

“Players are finding themselves unattached to teams as quite a few joined the draft own their own without the permission of their clubs. Those who joined the draft as ‘ free agent’ after finding some difficulties now as the old clubs they were associated with are not taking a call in their favour,” stated a Football Sports Development Ltd  (FSD)–promoters of Indian Super league (ISL)- team member.

“Had players come in through their teams, as many players did, and not picked up in the draft they would still be in their teams? It looks like there was a misunderstanding. But, this is not the end of the road. After all, players need teams and teams need players. As long as the emphasis is on competition, no one should feel short changed,” stated the FSD source to The Goan.

Players can be in the draft through their teams or opt to be there through agents according to ISL guidelines. With the number of agents increasing, quite a few players have their own agents managing their careers.

Franchises have till September 2 to sign up to nine foreign players and till September 10 for additional two players. The same is optional.

There were around fifteen Goan boys who did not get drafted initially. A few did later on and most were picked up by FC Goa. Attempts to zero in on Goan players who joined the draft through their clubs and through agents proved futile as the same is no longer on the ISL website anymore.

However, as of now, it looks like over ten Goan boys have no teams to call theirs. “Most of the players will be taken back by their old clubs. Some teams may be hurting now but when the time comes, they will go back to their old players and the other way round,” stated a senior player.

Brian Mascarenhas, Gilbert Oliveira, Beevan D’Mello ,Cajetan Fernandes, Keenan Almeida, Collin Abranches, Mathew Gonsalves, Velito Cruz are some of the Goan players not picked up during the draft . Their wait may continue for another three weeks or a little more.

18 Goans in ISL Loop

Eighteen Goan boys have been looped in by seven of the eight teams in the Indian Super league(ISL)  for the 2015 season. Obviously, home team FC Goa steers clear with seven players in their ranks. Mumbai City FC with former Sporting Clube de Goa coach Oscar Bruzone as assistant manager have picked up five players. The rest are scattered amongst Atletico de Kolkota, Kerala Blasters, Delhi Dynamos and Chenayin FCE.

Eight midfielders, five strikers; three defenders and two goalkeepers have been picked up by the seven clubs in the ISL. North East United is the only team in the ISL not to have a Goan in the squad.

Dempo Sports Club has eleven players with a bulk of them readying themselves to don the FC Goa jerseys in this edition of the ISl. Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa who preferred to wait last year have contributed sizeably in this edition. As disclosed to The Goan, prior to the auction and draft, Mumbai City FC zeroed in on five players this year- three from Sporting Clube de Goa.

From the twenty one vying to find a place in the starting eleven, three did particularly well last year-Cavin Lobo , Romeo Fernandes and Denzil Franco. Denzil was injured in Atletico de Kolkata’s clash with FC Goa  and did not play thereafter. Romeo Fernandes sparked occasionally but it was Cavin Lobo who was long remembered for his two scintillating goals-one scored against FC Goa.

Denzil Franco has been declared fit. But, his team Atletico bid heavily for Rino Anto and won him bidding 80 lakhs. And, Rino plays in the position Denzil Franco plays-right back. Here is going to be a tussle for the starting eleven.

Denzil has been undergoing rehabilitation in Goa and kolkata . He is aware the sailing is going to be tough and is determined to weather the odds despite the pricepaid for Anto (Rs 90,00,000). “I know they had difficulties last year despite my injury and most probably they wanted to avoid a similar fate this time. It is up to me now to prove that their wait during my recuperation was worth it,’ stated Denzil to The Goan.

Joining Denzil and Anto will be Salgaocar FC’s Gabriel Fernandes. Definitely the most reliable of players selected during the draft, Gabriel proved in the I League his physical and mental prowess’s were being harnessed for a professional set up. If anything, Gabriel will be seen a lot this season for his team. He is steps ahead of the other players from Goa.

It is too early to say much about the rest of the Goan players making their debut in the ISL. A lot will depend on how they maintain their fitness levels and how they fit into their foreign coaches strategies. For once, they will not be able to say they are victims of bias.

The movement of Goan players

Strikers:

Gabriel Fernandes from Dempo SC to Mumbai City FC

Romeo Fernandes from Dempo SC to FC Goa

Joaquim Abranches from Dempo Sc to FC Goa

Victorino Fernandes  from Sporting Clube de Goa to FC Goa

Mandar Rao Dessai  from Dempo SC to FC Goa

Midfielders:

Cavin Lobo from East Bengal to Kerala Blasters

Peter Carvalho from Dempo Sc to Kerala Blasters

Anthony Barbosa from Salgaocar FC to Chenayin FC

Pratesh Shirodkar from Sporting Clube de Goa to Mumbai City FC

Lenny Rodrigues from Dempo SC to FC Pune City

Francis Fernandes from Dempo SC to Delhi Dynamos

Clifford Miranda from Dempo SC to Atletico de Kolkata

Brandon Fernandes from Sporting Clube de Goa to Mumbai City FC

DEFENDERS:

Augustin Fernandes from Salgaocar FC to Atletico de Kolkata

Rowilson Rodrigues from Dempo SC to Mumbai City FC

Nicolau Colaco from Salgaocar FC to FC Goa

GOALKEEPERS:

Laximikant Kattimani from Dempo SC to FC Goa

Albino Gomes from Salgaocar FC to  FC Goa.

Sesa Football Academy To Close Due To Lack Of Funds?

The center that harnessed football talent going to close gates?

The Sesa Football Academy (SFA)-the first football academy in Goa- finds itself in a stay open or shut case.  With mining activities having ceased, a financial crunch is forcing the it’s closure. This is its fate now.  Academy officials are now looking to the government for financial assistance. And, time is running out. Literally.

“The decision to stop is going to be painful to us. This is due to no fault of ours. Things have been tough after the Supreme Court decision to stop mining. We are trying to hold on to everyone but, there is a limit we can do,” stated A.N Joshi, Vice president Corporate affairs, Vedanta Ltd, in an exclusive chat with The Goan.

 The Sesa senior team has been withdrawn from Goa Football Association (GFA) Professional League and no more recruits have been taken in the academy this year. In a way , the phasing out process has begun.

A N Joshi offers seeds of hope in these turbulent financial days the company is seeing saying, “We normally select boys every alternate years, since the boys were selected last year, there was no selection this year,” said Joshi while still expecting the government to come to the aid of the academy.

“Yes, talks are going on with the Goa football Development Council (GFDC). They have reach to youngsters and so we have approached them. We are in talks with them and we are sure something will work out. Let us not jeopardise the process,” stated Joshi when prodded on the nature of the talks.

 “Tenders have been advertised by GFDC to start their academies already. I do not know whether Sesa Goa will respond but as of now we (GFDC) are thinking of SVD fathers in Raia and Monte de Guirim. Our Technical Director has been asked to go. So , I don’t know which way the wind is blowing,” stated a senior member of GFDC  on condition of confidentiality.

Former international goalkeeper and Arjuna awardee Brahmanand Shankwalkar who liaises for Sesa FA and is a council member of GFDC had this to say: “We were asked to make a presentations and the same was done by former manager Cyril Rodrigues. I do not know the status now.”

“GFDC has not had council meetings for ages. There was talk of starting an academy in Guirim and Raia but Sesa FA was never discussed. It does not look possible,” stated GFDC council member Savio  Messias.

Till date, 109 students have passed out  from Sesa FA ,of which, 82 trainees have played for professional and or senior division clubs in and out of Goa. Thirty five boys played for I-League clubs and 19 players presently play for I-league clubs.  Thirty players have represented Goa, three players have represented India junior team and four players have represented India.  The sale of one player to European Club I FK Teplice in the Czech Republic, is the tallest and most distinct achievement.

FC Goa To Move Training Base Out Of Goa

FC Goa co-owners Dattaraj V Salgaocar and Shrinivas Dempo with Manager Zico

FC Goa are thinking of having their training sessions –tentatively scheduled  to start from September 3- in  Goa and for some time  in India or in some nearby country  due to the incessant monsoons around this time of the year, disclosed an FC Goa source close to team manager Zico . As reported in The Goan , Zico is to arrive on “ September 2 and practise is to start the next day”.

“Practise sessions will be held at the Tilak maidan but because of the rains in September, we are looking at alternate venues in India and abroad too. The financial logistics are being worked out,” stated our source.

“The conditions in Europe are different to the conditions in India. Players have to acclimatise to local conditions. Even the European players have to acclimatise to our conditions. So, what is the point of going to Europe?” asked our source while ruling out the possibility of the team going to Europe for pre-season training.

“Hotel accommodation is costly in Goa compared to other parts of India or some neighbouring countries. The ground facilities available will be a major factor in determining the other training location,” emphasised our source.

The FC Goa team is now almost set with the signing of the other Indian players out of the draft.  Three foreign players are left to be signed as the ISL allows nine foreign players to be signed and six are already roped in.

“Zico may choose the other three foreigners or it could be that the owners refer three names to Zico,” disclosed a senior FC Goa source  closely linked to  the three main owners of the team- Dattaraj V Salgaocar,  Shrinivas Dempo and Venugopal Dhoot. Cricketer Virat Kohli is the fourth individual who has a financial stake in the team- he is supposed to have contributed more than five crores last year.

According to ISL rules, every franchise is allowed to have nine foreign players and a minimum of fifteen Indian players. Every franchise can have a minimum of 22 players or a maximum of 26 players in a squad. As per the rules last year, players were to be given five star accommodations. The same has been amended this time. Foreign as well as Indian players can now be provided four star accommodations or be kept in serviced apartments. “The idea is to keep them close so that they get to know each other. As of now, arrangements have been made to keep them in a five star hotel in the city,” stated our source.

I League Open To More Corporate Teams

Hope is not lost for Indian players players not picked up in the recently held Hero India Super League (HISL) draft. The Al India football Federation (AIFF) is going to advertise for more corporate entities to enter the I League. “We are going to advertise in a weeks’ time for corporates to enter the I league. The floor is open to any corporate fulfilling the I League criteria,” stated I League CEO Sunando Dhar in an exclusive interview.

“Churchill Brothers or even other teams like JCT can come through the corporate route if they meet the criteria. We have no problems and there is no bias. Teams can enter the I league after topping the second division of the I league too. There are no hard and fast rules. The club licensing criteria has to be met. That is all” stated Sunando  Dhar.

“The idea of getting corporate teams is so that the clubs will be run professionally. Corporates will be required to infuse a lot of money .Obviously; there will be returns for the teams and players. A time frame for returns cannot be set at this stage,” disclosed Sunando.

“The I League is here to stay. I have never said of for that matter no one from the AIFF has said that the I League will merge with the ISL. If that was to be so , we would not be advertising for more corporates to join ,” said Sunando while trying to allay fears that the I League will make way for the ISL.

The following are some of the criteria to be met:

1: New clubs will have to pay an annual license fee of Rs 3 crores for next 5 years;

2: The new club gets immunity from relegation (like Bharat FC this year) for three years subject to conditions. They get to play in the I league for four seasons;

3: Successful bidders have net worth of more than 500 crores and will be required to submit a corporate guarantee;

4: Successful bidders having net worth less than 500 crores will be required to submit a bank guarantee of Rs 100 crores.

According to I League rules, new clubs bidding for direct entry shall undertake three essential activities: 1”Creating /leasing stadium. Club gets a timeframe of five years to build the new stadium; 2: An annual review of the progress will be undertaken by AIFF against the timelines mentioned by the incumbent in their proposal. In case of no compliance the clubs may lose the no relegation immunity”.

Highly placed sources in the AIFF disclosed to THE GOAN that “at least one corporate team is expected to put in the papers this year”. “ I do not want to comment now. Let us wait and see how corporates respond,” summed up Sunando.

Fatorda Artificial Turf Impasse Set To End in August

All India Football Federation (AIFF) secretary Kushal Das flew down to Goa to put an end to an unnecessary standoff between the Goa Football Association (GFA), the AIFF and the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG). Kushal Das, Sandip Jacques and Elvis Gomes met in a five star hotel to thrash out how the artificial turf built by FIFA outside the Fatorda stadium should be used. According to all indications, AIFF that is presently using the stadium will stop in August.

 With the ground unavailable to youth in the South , Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai jumped ship in favour of the children. In a letter emailed to GFA President Elvis Gomes (copy emailed to The Goan ) a few days back, Sardesai states:

“This is to inform you regarding many parents of budding football players from South Goa who wish to partake in the selection process for the U-17 India National Football Team had met with me a few days back raising apprehensions of having to travel all the way to Duler, Mapusa for the selection process.

All the players as well as their parents expressed unhappiness with the fact that they have to travel to Mapusa for the selection to be held on 15/07/2015. The explained with plenty of football complexes and grounds in South Goa it would be fitting to have a selection at any venue in South Goa.

Kindly look into the matter and to ensure no injustice is done to the players of South Goa who have to travel long distances to partake in the selection.”

GFA has in its press notes been complaining that the selection trials have to be held in their ground in Mapusa due to the non-availability of a ground in South Goa.

The Goan picture is:

“The GFA approached  us (AIFF)  stating that they needed the ground being used for the preparation of the  U-17 World Cup team in Fatorda on July 1,2 and 3 from 3p.m to 6.30 pm. Since the ground was required by us at the specified time, we asked GFA to use the ground from 11 am to 3pm. GFA replied saying the time was not suitable,” stated a senior AIFF member

“We then asked GFA to use the ground on Saturday and Sunday. They refused, stating they needed the ground on the days they wanted. Does this not show the hollowness in their approach to football? Is football to be used to score ego points or for the betterment of the game,” asked the AIFF member.

AIFF secretary Kushal Das was forthright.” This is an ego problem with GFA and SAG. We are not involved. I am in Goa today to sort this out. The Fatorda ground will be available from August .Please do not get AIFF involved “stated Das.

Surprisingly all GFA correspondence is with Anshuman Arya ,Sr. Manager, Academies & Grassroots(AIFF) and not  SAG. One bit of correspondence between AIFF and GFA reads:” The ground is available only on very specific time slots i.e. 10 AM to 2:30 PM on the mentioned dates as per trailing mail.  Other time slots are not available at the moment. Let me know if you are fine with these timings.”

“I am not aware if AIFF suggested we use the ground on Saturday and Sunday. I am pretty sure, we were never made the offer.  The matter will be deliberated in our AGM and we shall approach the government,” stated GFA president Elvis Gomes.

“The matter is between the AIFF and GFA, just like matters are with parents and siblings. The MOU’s signed between us and AIFF are clear. I am following what has been signed by my predecessor. Also, why this fuss about artificial turf? There are so many grounds in South Goa,” elaborates SAG Executive Director Sandip Jacques.

“Goa cannot surrender to the whims and fancies of AIFF.I am bothered about ground facilities for people of Fatorda . I am going to build a ground for the youth of Fatorda and if need be, will take part in an agitation to throw out the artificial turf,” threatened Vijai.

With a solution in sight now, inflated egos are set to let the ball roll.