PANJIM: Fatigue and injuries have been highlighted by State Coach Norbert Gonsalves in his report on the Goa’s debacle in the Santosh Trophy National Football Championship wherein the team played five matches and lost them all, scoring four goals and conceding 14 and finishing last in the 6-member group.
The report was received by GFA this morning, just in time to be presented at the Executive Committee meeting. General Secretary Lector Mascarenhas confirmed that it was placed before the meeting and that it could not be taken up as Manager Omkar, who gave just an oral explanation, had not yet submitted his report. Once all the details are obtained, it will be placed at the meeting, it is learnt. Omkar’s remarks “There was some outside influence. The defence was making errors,” could not be confirmed.
There is a feeling that this was Goa’s worst performance which reflects on the depth that Goan football has plummeted. Former National football striker, Irineu Gonsalves from Nagoa-Salcete pointed out that some of the selected players like Liston Cardoso and Stenley Fernandes were fielded by their teams in Goa Professional League after returning from preliminary competition in Assam, and unfortunately got injured and had to be grounded in Goa. They were replaced by Akhiraj and Ryan Menezes. Then the first choice goalkeeper Sanji travelled with the team to Bhubaneshwar despite being sick and as such could not be fielded for any match. Some other players travelled with the team carrying injuries and some got sick and as such were not fit to be fielded.
“The Goa Professional League should have been suspended and the preparation of the State team given topmost priority. It was noticed even by the GFA President when he witnessed two matches in Odisha that a few players were not playing to their usual capacity and that the defence had altered the pattern of play, not maintaining compactness. Moreover, the strikers did not capitalise on the scoring chances,” reasoned out Irineu, who added that the attitude of few players was simply shocking. “Moreover, no substitute was named for assistant coach Mario Soares,” he stressed.
Certainly more time was needed for preparation, with Norbert suggesting a 1-month or so training in future. He was of the opinion that the camp ought to have started at the earliest so that he could test the players’ fitness and select the best players once again during the break. Anthony Pango, Chairman of Competitions Committee, had said that he would be able to give two days off from GPL on January 26 and 30 and from February 1 or 2 onwards and that training could be held till the departure on February 7. Norbert is understood to have agreed to Pango’s suggestion. However, there is a feeling that Norbert did not get sufficient time with the ‘full’ squad, not even seven days.
The way the players played in Assam and then in Odisha pointed out to two contrasting patterns. Brilliant at one place and moribund at another. There were two goals that were gifted – self goals – something unimaginable. And the defence played erratic while the strikers failed to convert from ideal situations. Certainly, it is the video-recordings that will throw light on the debacle.
Match-fixing continues to haunt Goan football as three GPL matches have been allegedly red-flagged. Calangute Association v Velsao SCC played on January 4, Guardian Angel SC v Panjim Footballers on January 8 and Dempo SC v Guardian Angel SC on January 11.
“The GFA decided that it would ask for the contracts of the players and other relevant documents from the clubs involved. The President suggested that GFA should know how the clubs are financing and playing the players, as during the President’s visit to Assam for Santosh Trophy many players had reported that they are not being paid in time by the clubs. On the matter of appointing the Integrity Officer, it was observed that due to high pay demand by the one considered earlier, no such an officer could be appointed.”
On match-fixing matter, the Crime Branch at Ribandar is learnt to have already issued summons to two clubs- Guardian Angel and Velsao. Their presidents, coaches, managers and captains have been asked to be present for the investigation. The matches have been red-flagged for suspicious betting patterns indicative of match-fixing. It is learnt that there was very strong live betting in case of one match, to extend the lead by one more goal and for at least three goals being scored at full time in one match. The betting was entirely successful.
