PANJIM: Patience, perseverance, persistence are three keys in attaining success! But one shouldn’t forget sacrifice. In football, playing together as a unit, often requires some to sacrifices for the stability and success of the team.
And to keep up with a group of egos committed, the manager always persuades the players to play out of positions either to meet the void caused by lack of options or injuries.
This particular act has seen the senior most Gaur — Mandar Rao Dessai — a winger and attacking midfielder being deployed as left wing back for FC Goa by the Spanish gaffer Sergio Lobera in the ISL season five.
None would deny the fact the full backs are the only positions in football that doesn’t meet naturals. Kieran Gibbs, Jordi Alba, Kyle Walker and Patrice Evra are few names to mention who started as wingers and then went to play as wing-backs for most part of their careers.
“It was a new challenge for me this season to start as a left back as I had never played in this position earlier. But coach wanted me to play in this position,” said FC Goa skipper Mandar Rao Dessai who is cherishing his new role at the club.
“Coach wants me to start in this position and I think I have accepted this now. What he wants is a new challenge for me,” said Mandar, who has forged an excellent relation with Jackichand on the width.
Mandar Rao Dessai played for FC Goa from the season 1 and always heralded for his attacking prowess. His dribbling skills and pace earned him recognition across the Nation and made him the most loved Gaur.
In recent times at FC Goa, it isn’t uncommon to see the fullbacks adding to the already powered attack, offering support and width, allowing the midfielders to play more in the centre and combine with the front line.
Mandar might be lean, but his speed, stamina, pace and defensive attributes along with attacking prowess makes him an ideal right back for FC Goa. Mandar’s strength is his stamina and his strong left foot which allows him to fall back whenever the required. He has brought skill to the ball and composure to the left back position.
“Starting I found it a bit difficult and a little weird to play in this position but as time passed I realised I could equally perform in this position. Game after game, I tried to improve my performance and now I’m getting in this position. I want to improve in each and every game,” said Mandar who now has established himself as a successful left back at FC Goa.
Many criticised his role as a left back for his defending ability which isn’t strong as it should or could be, but he makes it up with his pace, technicality and attacking prowess which makes him an idle left back at the club.
The 26-year-old swashbuckling left back has also two assists to his name in 16 games this season and is yet to score for Gaurs in this edition.
“I miss playing upfront. But the team needs me in the back position. So my first preference at the moment is to defend and at the same time the coach (Sergio) has given me liberty to move forward,” said the most loved Gaur accepting the new challenge thrown at him.
FC Goa have managed to keep seven clean-sheets this season with five coming in the last six games, before they lost against Bengaluru 0-3. “Last season we made lot of mistakes in the back line (defence) and the coach has studied the flaws and tried to improve in this area from the start of the season. Initially, it (the defence) wasn’t so good but game after game, we tried to improve,” concluded Mandar.
