From Brahmanand Shankwalker to Bruno Coutinho
to Savio Medeira, Indian football has always seen
its international jersey graced by Goans, who have
proven to be some of the sport’s finest exponents.
However, when the India squad for the FIFA U-17
World Cup was announced, there wasn’t a single
Goan footballer amongst its ranks.
In fact, the only Goan in the squad is Mario Aguiar,
the goalkeeping coach of the Indian team. While he
is part of the coaching staff for the biggest football
tournament in the subcontinent, and has been for
more than four years now, this defining moment in
the history of Indian football is one he will witness
alone, in terms of other squad members from the
same state.
Perhaps this could well affect ticket sales too, with
FIFA U-17 World Cup ticket sales in Goa not having
garnered a very enthusiastic response from the
football fans in the state. Believing this to be caused
by a lack of familiarity with online ticket purchases,
the Local Organising Committee (LOC) has installed
a physical ticket sales system. However, perhaps the
root cause is one that stems within the lack of local
talent at an event that is arguably the biggest prize in
football.
Whether the crowd remains as enthusiastic about
a squad devoid of local names on the back of a
jersey remains to be seen and will only be verifiable
by numbers in the stands once the event kicks off
come October 7, with Germany taking on Costa Rica
followed by Iran locking horns with Guinea.
