Herald: Goan FC are undefeated in the ongoing Goa Pro League and favourites to win the league. What you have to say about it?
Derrick Pereira: Still a long way to go as this is just the first phase. Players are working very hard since most of them have been playing together since last year. We have some good quality players and they are regular and getting towards the professional approach. The coaches are also working hard. I think this helps us in getting good results. I believe that we have to work hard and rest; by the grace of god, we get good results.
H: Goan FC boasts of young developing talent. What are their chances of getting into the first team?
DP: There are many good players (whom I don’t want to name). Of these some players may join the First team next year while some may take time — may be another couple of years. Development is a process. We are building up this team and are working towards how the first team plays. So there are some good players who could make it to the first team next year and then there are few players who are already there and might get a chance to play first team football next year.
H: Could you explain?
DP: We have Liston and Princeton in the first team. The players need to work on their physicality. They need to be a little more physically stronger. Now this is a process and we can’t push and make it quick. We are getting in facilities wherein we can take care of their diet and see that they get good rest after training sessions that will help them to develop physically.
H: FC Goa has become a National/ international brand. Do you think this paved the way for the future stars in joining the development squad?
DP: We are trying to form a team but at the same time we are focusing more on our under age group teams. We just started this programme last year. We chose the players who were free agents to push them in the first team as a short term solution but at the same time we are also working towards our long term goal of developing our underage players.
H: You always managed a senior team and enjoyed a good success rate. How do you look upon the new role assigned to you by FC Goa as a technical director of the development side?
DP: I always encouraged youngsters during my time with senior teams in the past, but it didn’t make much difference as we had to focus on results than the development of the players. Here we are totally focusing on development of the players and I believe that if we are focusing on development we can get results.
H: Could you explain how?
DP: I can make a change here by working on the tactical and technical aspect of the game. At the senior level it is more of a tactical aspect of the game but at the youth level we see the overall growth level of the team and the players. It’s not a difficult task at the development side. I enjoy it at the same time I want our young coaches to develop as good coaches. At FC Goa, that’s the plan — to develop the players and the coaches.
H: Working with the youth setup, how do you tackle the major problem of players’ off-field anti -social activities which could affect their career?
DP:This is something wherein we don’t have much control. We try to educate the players on what is right and what is wrong. There are players who listen while there are few who don’t. We can only control them if they are with us but it’s very difficult to control them off the pitch. Here we try to educate them how a professional player has to behave on and off the pitch. It takes time to change as this isn’t possible overnight. FC Goa does not impose army or military rules and regulations upon the players. The players need to be socially active but simultaneously should know and maintain their limits.
H: Have you’ll come across such cases? How do you’ll assess the players?
DP: Yeah! We evaluate every player during the training session and we find out the cause for the same. We come to know about it looking and evaluating their performance on the pitch and during training sessions. We impose fines for the players to keep the disciplines. I personally try and educate the players briefing them about real life incidences; how a probable player lost his chance due to such behaviour.
H: As a technical director – what are your goals this season?
DP: There is no such goal at this moment. Our aim is to develop Goan footballers so we try to focus in this area. So my job is to develop players who will be playing for our first team. We have a set up wherein we have a scouting and analyses department where they scout the players in Goa but also outstanding talent from outside Goa are also roped in. We can’t have top 11 players in Goa, so we have to get some players from outside. So we have a network, wherein they scout at the youth level.
