According to the newspaper report today, Zico said “Goa lacked potent striker” and because of this Goa lost in the three encounters”, making an especial mention to the loss against Pune. With due respect to Zico’s foot-balling prowess, I disagree with this statement. It was Zico’s duty to create one in the front line if there is none in which case it was also his duty to search for a suitable one and induct him in the team. Normally, front liners are bound to be good strikers and unless you strike hard you cannot fit in the front line. What was missing in the Goan team was the killer instinct among the forwards and strong will to hit powerfully from inside and outside the box. Our players went on passing the ball to each other even in front of the goal instead of taking long shots. Only Santos tried this with his left foot. As a coach it was Zico’s duty to instruct his forwards to aim at the goal instead of dribbling and exchanging passes from inside and outside the box.
Zico followed the same method of his Coach Tele Santana in 1982 World Cup when Brazil squandered so many chances of scoring sure goals because they went on passing the ball among themselves instead of shooting the ball into the goal. “Jogo bonito” is good to entertain the spectators and make the game interesting but finally what it counts is score.
During his peak form in 1966 World Cup, when questioned, the great soccer wizard of Portugal, Eusebio answered thus: “Inside the box when I get the ball I don’t think of passing the ball to my colleague but to hit hard towards the net”.
Zico during his hey days was a great footballer but great footballers do not necessarily make great Coaches. As a coach Maradona failed and likewise many more. The success of the coach depends on the quality of the players he is having. Zico when he was entrusted with the task of coaching the Goan team he should have analysed the weak area and accordingly acted to infuse proper blood into the team or request the team management to give him suitable replacement to fortify the weak area. It is useless now to shift blame on here and on there.
Having said that, I must admit that Zico has brought great changes in the Goan team for its betterment even though Goa lost important encounters which we have to accept sportingly. In the long run the game of soccer benefited with its vast improvement.
Candolim, Goa.
Tel:7507394349.