With regret I write this piece expressing my feelings on the humiliating defeat FC Goa suffered on 13th of this month at Chennai, from Chennaiyin. When Goa lost in the penultimate encounter in Madras in the Santosh Trophy for the first time after the invasion of Goa by Bharat, the national Press commented thus, “though Goa lost yet Indian soccer has to learn a lot from Goa that displayed totally different brand of soccer”. During that time Goa had great stalwarts in its team of which type we don’t see any more now. Can we get another right outer like Vassu? Can we see another goal-keeper like Benzinho? Can we get another deep defender like Menino Figueredo? Can we ever again get another Andrew? Today Goa hardly have a few players worthy of admiration and because of this now FC Goa plays with more non Goans who it looks are least bothered to give their best for their temporarily adopted place, they looked like playing only for the sake of money. In fact today it is money that plays foot-ball. The non-Goan players have already crossed their prime and since most of them looks rejected in their countries and regions, they came to Goa.
Besides Mandar nobody seen giving his life for FC Goa that was totally outplayed by the host in every department of the game. All the three goals of the host were wonderful but the first scored by Jeje had class in itself, it was a world class header. Goa’s passing was slow and erratic; in the beginning they controlled the ball in the midfield only. However, both the Goan defenders standing in between Jeje are to be blamed for not doing serious attempt to jump first only to head the ball away. Neither the custodian of Goa came out to jump and punch the ball for safety.
The defense of Goa was slow and vulnerable, their marking was poor, it was neither zonal nor man to man. I don’t know who selected the outstation players and on what basis? The owner of FC Goa it looks like interested only in promoting thru FC Goa his Casino business and wooing Goans towards his Casinos. Because of this FC Goa soccer team the owner of the Casino who run the FC Goa succeeded in brainwashing the Goans in general to accept the sinful money making venture. The owner of FC Goa wants nothing except the acceptance of Casinos in Goa by the Goans and that is what he does precisely. He is not interested in the promotion of Goan soccer by creating proper infrastructure and base for producing talented Goan players. Even during those days Portuguese promoted Goans but now under the Indian domination Goans are neglected. Non Goan persons like him must know that they are using the name of Goa which has great tradition of displaying finest soccer and this image of Goa should not be altered.
It is a shame that FC Goa is represented by very few Goans, even during Portuguese time Goa was represented with more players inspite of having exceptionally talented Portuese players. The overall quality of the non-Goan players playing for FC Goa is low, I am sure if properly searched there would be better players in Goa to play for Goan outfit than many of the currently donning the clours of FC Goa, from outside Goa.