PANJIM: The fate of Indian football has had mixed fortune in the 2014-15 season. In the beginning it was raised with the success of the inaugural edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).
However, months later, it has come to a decline with adverse effects on the ongoing I-League. The Goan franchise in the ISL FC Goa definitely cemented their place in the hearts of football lovers with their dream run to the semi-final stage.
There was a time Goa dominated the I-League, winning six out of the seven editions.
But the three Goan sides in the country’s top competition face a stiff challenge this time round, a challenge to survive.
Five-time National champions Dempo SC, Sporting Clube de Goa and Salgaocar FC are all languishing at the bottom of the I-League standings with 17 points from as many matches.
Shillong Lajong FC (20 points) and Mumbai FC (18 points) are also flirting with the drop. One notable exception is that of Bharat FC (18 points) who will not be relegated even if they finish with least number of points due to the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) regulations on corporate teams.
Moreover, none of the foreigners from the Goan teams feature in the top five of the top goal scorer’s charts which definitely hints at the poor selection of strikers.
“The impact of foreigners in the league is not that good. We need to have good quality players who can raise the level of football in India and also be an inspiration to young Indian players. When clubs recruit foreign players they should not compromise on quality. There are 44 foreign players in the I-League but few have quality like Cornell Glen of Shillong Lajong FC, Osano of Bangaluru FC, Sony Norde of Mohun Bagan, Haroon Amiri and Tolgay Ozbey of Dempo SC, Dohou Pierre and Daryl Duffy of Salgaocar FC and Densill of Royal Wahingdoh. Out of them Norde really stands out with his dazzling runs. Followed by Dohou with his defence splitting passes and ability to hold the ball under pressure,” feels Mariano Dias, assistant coach of Salgaocar FC who won the I-League as head coach with Churchill Bros in the 2012-13 season.
Armando Colaco, ex India, Dempo SC and East Bengal head coach is on the opinion that the Goan clubs have failed on the selections of players and the ISL has left some of the players tired.
“Goan clubs performances have been a mystery to see. The foreigners are called to improve the quality and the choice of them has definitely failed. See how many players Dempo brought and dropped. Same with Sporting Clube, they brought players which couldn’t perform due to injuries. Salgaocar FC’s foreigners also did not perform to the potential. They do make a difference like Beto, Ranty and Dudu. Clubs get average players, they must bring players who can change the game. Among local players Francis, Chhetri, Lenny also have failed. May be they are tired of playing for their franchises in the ISL. I don’t know what is going to happen to club football. It looks like the ISL has come to stay. Federation Cup is also cancelled for two years.”
Meanwhile, Goa’s first Arjuna Awardee Brahmanand Shankwalkar feels that the clubs must lay more emphasis on local talent and not only depend on foreign recruits.
“I was not impressed on how our Goan teams played. Everyone wants to win but there is a system to win. Football is about 11 players and all are not foreigners. They have to use the brains to play football. Some of the misses Sporting Clube had were unfortunate. Creation and positivism from foreigners in a team is very important. As per Dempo is concerned most of the players played ISL and then played I-league and had injury concerns. Victorino, Godwin Franco have been doing well. We have to identify the Goans and respect them,” said Brahmanand.
The Indian team is currently ranked 147th in the FIFA Ranking and Tony Remedios, former GFA vice-president feels nothing will change unless Indian strikers are given game time. “The current foreigners in the I-League are not up to expectations. The teams also can afford good quality foreign players due to budget constraints. However, bringing them doesn’t improve football in India. Most of the strikers in the tournament are foreigners and the Indian team suffers due to this fact. Amongst the Goan players I think forward Victorino Fernandes of Sporting Clube de Goa is really doing well but he certainly needs more match time.”
Defending champions Bengaluru FC are currently leading the table with 35 points with another three rounds to go. Mohun Bagan are second with 32 points but the focus is at the relegation zone to see who will survive the drop.
