Much like last year, the start has been slow for our ‘local’
boys at the third edition of Indian Super League. After a rather
dry spell of losing three matches on the trot, fortune finally
sided with the Gaurs in a match saddled with fouls and
stoppages, as FC Goa was happy to bag one point in their kitty
by restricting the hosts, Atletico de Kolkata, to a draw. However,
despite opening their account in the last match against ATK,
FC Goa continues to remain at the bottom of the table. FC Goa
faces Mumbai City FC next, in yet another ‘away’ match before
returning home for an encounter on October 24.
The Gaurs did make a few changes before their match
against ATK. Goa welcomed back Gregory Arnolin into the side
and had a changed look at both ends of the pitch. Striker Robin
Singh was handed his first start, as was goalkeeper Subhasish
Roy Chowdhury, who replaced Laxmikant Kattimani. Ahead of
our match against Mumbai too, it would be interesting to see
what changes the Goans adopt.
As expected, the fervent fandom that FC Goa enjoys has
earned the team a number of learning points from the fans,
who are active on social media registering their observations
and giving inputs on the strategy and gameplan that FC Goa
must adopt to secure their first win against Mumbai City FC
today.
Will Goa conquer
Mumbai today?
After securing their first point on the points table at the 2016 edition of ISL,
FC Goa takes on Mumbai City FC today in Mumbai. Café spoke to a few fans
of the local team and got their reactions and predictions on today’s encounter
We were the better
team for most of
the 90 minutes
against ATK.
We should
have been able
to convert the
chances that we
got. Against Mumbai, we need to
get our stuff together. Robin Singh,
who showed signs of rustiness in
his first ISL match of the season,
should come out all guns blazing
against Mumbai. Jofre and Rafael
Coelho, who started alongside
Robin in a three-man attack,
were often collecting the ball from
their own half, leaving the striker
isolated up top. That needs to
change.
AKSHAY SATARDEKAR, St Cruz
Well, Mumbai is not an
easy place to go and
win. But the fans need
to make the team know
that we’re there with
them. The morale isn’t
that high now in the
dressing room. I hope Zico
gets his first 11 right with not much of
experimenting and the Goans in Mumbai
give the players that much required feel
of “We’re with you”. We’re even having
a screening in South Goa to bring fans
together. Hopefully, we’ll seal our first win
of the season with this game.
– CONRAD BARRETO, Margao
The trend of the last two seasons seems to be continuing this
year too with a slow start; but we are optimistic about our
comeback. As ‘Gaurs’, our fighting spirit will go on. Mandar
and Romeo are the most loved Goan boys in the team and
everyone’s eyes are on them to perform. Robin will also be
a key to finishing the bad run that he had in the last game.
Mumbai FC is going to be a big challenge to overcome but ‘luck
favours the brave!’
GILBERT MENDES, Sangolda
