FLAVIO LOPES
sports@herald-goa.com
MAPUSA: Portuguese coach Francisco Neto, who will take charge of the Goa (India) football team for Lusofonia Games in November arrived Sunday morning.
Neto is counted among the brightest young coaches in Portugal and his reputation was enhanced considerably when he finished with the second best score at the recently held UEFA Pro License course (level IV), conducted by the Portuguese Football Federation.
“We all felt that the Goan team gave its best under a foreign coach and previous performances are a proof. We have an excellent relationship with Porto University, so they know our expectations and as such recommended Franciscco Neto for the job. Their support has always been profitable. When Rui Pedro took charge of the team for Lusofonia Games 2009 in Macau, Goa came up with a commendable performance,” said GFA executive committee member Savio Messias, who was entrusted with the task of finding the foreign coach this time also.
Messias is understood to have consulted Portuguese coaches Joao Britto and Daniel Barrera, both of whom have worked in Goa before as part of Goa’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Porto University.
“I am very happy to be in Goa to do what I love the most – that is coaching. The people here love football and I am delighted to help them. This experience will be very good for my career,” expressed Neto.
“I am looking forward to meet the team on Monday and know them from close. Firstly, I will have to identify their individual characteristics and then work with them collectively,” added the Portuguese.
Neto will meet the team on Monday morning and conduct a training session at 9 a.m. at Duler Stadium, here.
