Chennaiyin FC’s Stiven Mendonza scored two goals in quick succession, to win the title for his team, that none realised and saw the cheers turned into tears. Yet again luck failed to smile on them.
It doesn’t end there, the misery continued…
Taken aback by the unexpected turn of events and utter disbelief, the team known for their susegad nature lost their glory second time in the same night.
They failed to show the sportsmen’s spirit after boycotting the award ceremony for the earlier on field so-called scuffle between the former FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar and Chennaiyin FC marquee player Elano Blummer on that fateful night.
The sorrowful curtain came down upon the eventful December.
Indian Super League 2015 concluded, however, FC Goa’s rollercoaster journey sustained. The Gaurs unsporting behaviour in the final attracted the judgements from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian Super League’s Regulatory Commission.
The AIFF, in a hearing on March 4, charged FC Goa with a fine of Rs 50 lakh. While ISL’s Regulatory Committee slapped the Gaurs with Rs 11crore fine along with the co-owners multiple seasons ban on May 5.
To make the matter even worse for the team, the owners and exuberant fans; the Regulatory Committee decided to deduct 15 points from their ISL Season 3 kitty, which virtually eliminated their chances of making to the play-offs of the ISL 2016 even before the tournament began.
While most of the clubs were busy shopping in the transfer window in the lean period, FC Goa and the entire fan base across the country were awaiting for the verdict in their favour which they earlier appealed for.
Finally on July 21, the independent jury members of ISL Regulatory Commission and ISL Appeals Panel comprising of former Chief Justice of Bombay High Court Kshitij Vyas made the ruling that no points shall be docked from the team, overturned the co-owners ban and reduced the ban to Rs 6 crore which had to be paid to Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).
Shrinivas and Dattaraj were not new to the sports as they have owned Goa’s top most clubs for past few decades, but the ISL decision against the franchise left them heartbroken. Tired of the entire fracas, ‘disturbed’ co-owners Dattaraj Salgaocar and Shrinivas Dempo on July 22, stepped down as the co-owners of the club and were forced to sell their 65 per cent stakes.
“The developments post the finals on December 20, 2015 have caused deep distress to us, our families, the FC Goa team and Goans in general. We have received a copy of the statement of Elano Blumer of Chennaiyin FC conveying his regrets over his actions that occurred post match on December 20. In the interest of our innumerable fans and the team, with great sadness we have taken the painful decision to exit from FC Goa,” the former co-owners said in a joint statement.
Lot transpired the in past two years at the club. A new co-owner! A new sponsor along with new faces… yet the same old passion, zeal and determination.
Jaydev Mody, owner of Delta Group, one of the biggest players in Goa’s floating casino industry, took the rightful co-ownership of the club by buying the 65 per cent of the stakes and kept the Goan dream alive in the league.
None could deny the fact that under Zico’s tutelage, the Gaurs had played arguably the most exciting football in the past two seasons.
In 2014, the Gaurs started slowly being at the bottom of the table mid-way through the season, but as the season progressed, the team considered the underdogs became a force to reckon with as Andre Santos and Romeo Fernandes guided them to the play-offs.
But winning the league proved a step too far after — Andre Santos — the man himself missed the crucial penalty that broke every Goan’s hearts in the semi-final.
The day shone bright on FC Goa after Mody took the rightful ownership. Though, there were clean-ups at the administrative level, FC Goa’s core squad on the pitch remained the same after the business tycoon made it clear that the club meant business in ISL 2016 and their vision hasn’t deterred with the owners-ship change.
The joy continued as club’s maestro Zico returned to lead the team for the third successive season assuring the Samba football for yet another year.
Now it was Zico’s time to build the team once again from shreds as most of his chosen players left the team during their time of trial and tribulation. His first choice defender Bikramjit Singh signed for rivals Atletico de Kolkata while Pronay Halder and Narayan Das joined Mumbai City FC and FC Pune City respectively.
All was not lost as the Brazilian legend recalled 2002 World Cup winner Lucio to be his marquee player for the season and chose to retain 11 others. French Gregory, Goa’s poster boy Romeo Fernandes, wing wizard Mandar Rao Dessai, smiling assassin Reinaldo, Rafael Coelho, Zico’s favourite Raju Gaikwad, Spanish medio Joffre and Laxmikanth Kattimani are few big names among them.
It was a task in finding the striker and midfielders for the team as youngster Thongkhosiem Haokip, Dudu Omagbemi and Jonathan Lucca left the Gaurs while Santa Cruz Futebol Clube refused to release crowd favourite Leo Moura for ISL 3.
However, the maestro had Plan B, though his first choice players departed the attacking midfielder who tormented the rival defence during his playing days would never compromise on his attacking style of football.
The decision was easy to make, Zico raided the Brazilian market again to fill the gaps in his side by signing Julio Cesar da Silva, Richarlyson Barbosa, Rafael Dumas and Matheus Trindade Gonçalves and managed to rope in Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, Sukhadev Patil, Fulganco Cardozo, Sahil Tavora, Denzil Franco and Sanjay Balmuchu to complete the domestic quota.
Zico once again will be the cynosure of all eyes leading a line-up with strength that of the Gaurs.
Whether the team ends up with the silverware is a question that will have to wait for.
FC Goa have arguably played like the best team in the tournament in previous seasons and look to even be more stronger at least on paper this time around.
With an Indo-Brazilian squad, the heart throbbing fans are expecting the Gaurs to settle nothing less than the title and it may be so.
But… There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip’.
