PANJIM: Last week, FC Goa announced the return of their star defender Carlos Pena but this time with much bigger responsibility, The Spaniard has been given the charge of the club to manage them in the Indian Super League.
After the dismal performance in the previous edition, the club has shown the trust in the old guard to lead and guide the club. The decision, which has been welcomed by many. However, it hasn’t been much before Pena left the club. In just two seasons, he quit professional football and started coaching. And on his return, the new Gaffer will now coach many players with whom he onced shared the locker / dressing room as a player.
His return has seen many players being happy with his appointment. Saviour Gama stated, “It’s wonderful to have Carlos Pena back. His professionalism, discipline and will to become better everyday was something that I always looked up to in my initial days at the Club. I have learnt a lot from him – especially his words that ‘a sliding tackle is the last option’ is something I still follow till date,”
Saviour broke into the main team with a splendid performance in the ISL final in 2019 where he partnered Pena in defence. They eventually lost the match.
“Playing with him in the ISL 2019 final was an unforgettable experience. He had faith in me and told the coach to put me in even though I had only played once before. I was really nervous when I got subbed in. Throughout the game, he supported and guided me on what I had to do. The stakes were very high, but having him around helped me feel comfortable,” concluded Gama.
Overjoyed about Carlos Pena’s return, Princeton Rebello stated, “I am really happy. We all remember him as a true leader both on and off the pitch. He is someone who I felt always had my back and inspired me to give it my all every day in training even though I was not getting regular minutes,”
Another Goan defender Seriton Fernandes stated, “I’ve had many wonderful moments with Pena. We lifted two trophies together. It’s a joy to have him back and hopefully we’ll bring more silverware to the club.”
“His return is good news for all the players. Even when he was playing with us, I have seen him studying the game deeply to learn new things as his passion was always to be a coach.”
