For years, Goa has been known for the romance and unique style of football with ferocious and vociferous fans backing their teams at most venues across the State.
However, empty stands, lack of zeal for football to poor performances by the Goan’s on the field have been the recent trends in the State.
After enjoying a successful decade in the top-flight football and attaining various national titles and dominating the National league, the tides have sadly changed.
Goa, once a nation’s powerhouse with a stunning anomaly in football, is now lacking behind at the national platform. In recent years the footballing standards has gradually but notably slipped to a point where Goa has hit, what is arguably is its all time low.
Goa’s on field performance as well as the lack of desire for the sport in the recently concluded Santosh Trophy has raised serious questions against the State’s so-called ‘romance’ with the official State sport.
Goa last won a senior nationals eight years ago, beating Kolkata 4-2 in the final in 2009 of the then once considered a prestigious tournament by AIFF—the Santosh Trophy. While the last I-League title was won by Churchill Brothers in 2013.
A great history!
In the past two decades, Goan clubs have won nine national titles (National Football League and I-League) with Dempo (5), Chuchill Brothers (2) and Salgaocar Football Club (2) as compared to Kolkata’s seven. From 2008-13, the Goan teams enjoyed success and dominated the country’s top-tier league.
Goa also won the Santosh Trophy five times.
Football gained such popularity that Goans live the sport. Every balcao and tinto was the talking point of the beautiful game. Yesteryears stars —Bruno Coutinho, Brahmanand Sankhwalkar were seen challenged by younger generations of Climax Lawrence, Felix D’Souza etc, while the Indian national team featured maximum Goans in the rank.
Goa, which once had the best playing and coaching talent, has developed into an afterthought. But sadly, in recent time no players could sustain or maintain their growth as they were distorted by the other forces.
Blip and swap in fortunes
It was not long ago that Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC, Churchill Brothers FC, Sporting Club de Goa and Vasco SC were a force to reckon with. But like Empire, so is with the teams, and with a combination of tragedy, financial plummet, conflicts among football bodies in the State and cultural shifts -this crossroad precipitated than least expected in Goan football and has led to blip and swap in fortunes.
Since the turn of the decades the State has had entertaining tussles at Club levels as well at the nationals and a couple of AFC Cup clashes; then the slide.
There has been no I-League title in the State for past five years, and with the withdrawal of Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa, the once championship battles have now turned into the surviving relegation and sustaining in the League at club football.
Right now Goa couldn’t be further from their glorious years of football. What has become of Goan football? The pioneer of fascinating and attacking football which enjoyed success, reduced to desperation, the kind of football that has never seen before. Goa is suffering a slow death, a world away from the glorious 80’, 90’ and the first decade of 2000.
Completed five years of football being the State sport yet stagnant standards
Every year, the gap to other State’s football decreased as compared to the ever increasing football standards of the other states. But the real question is, are we improving and meeting the growing football standards in the country?
The National team is dominated by the NorthEast players while most of the players in the U-17 World Cup team are also from the same region.
According to a GFA official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “The football standards in Goa are same over the years. We haven’t improved nor gone down. It’s just that the other states have raised the bar and improved their standards,”
The source further said that now we have to concentrate on the younger players for better tomorrow rather than complaining about the present scenario. He further expressed the current structure has to reconsidered if we need development of football.
“We need to concentrate on our grassroots more. The current conditions in the Goa are not favouring the development of the kids,” he asserted.
Empty stands greet teams!
When Goa walked amble meekly towards the light, there was nothing alluring about ‘the beautiful game’ anymore. Where did it go wrong? How did the most passionate football State lose its charm?
The football stadiums aren’t the same anymore. The fans have disappeared from the stands. The love for the game has faded away as one could witness empty stands for the local, national as well as international matches held in the State.
Even FIFA head of delegations Jamie Yarza for the U-17 World Cup raised his concern over low turnout for the matches, during one of his visit in Goa, recently.
“Even having India playing in their home country, they have around 4000 spectators. It was far away from having a full stadium. These are the concerns we have,” said Jaime on Goa being one of the venues to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
If the decline continues, Goan football will be in genuine danger of losing its place on the Indian football radar. Something beyond radical is required to save the State that contributed a lot to the country for the love of the beautiful game.
Winds of change will blow gale against the Goan football if things are not resolved soon.
