Goals have not been coming because football is still disoriented with fans being entertained in sudden bursts of spasms as the Goa Football Association (GFA) Professional League takes a break as the state team for Santosh Trophy and National Games gets into preparatory mode.
Ten goals were scored from six games of the third round and this time too, Vasco Sports Club was once again hammered by three goals thus keeping focus on the direction football in Goa is taking.
Geno SC raised their standard of the game in the third round and the boys who passed out from the Minerva Football Academy seem to be adjusting to the local standard of the game though their own standard needs to be notched a few levels more.
FC Goa was given a run for money as the youngsters from the North started their third round with more purpose – moving the ball more confidently in the centre and waiting to burst in the final third. They got a goal against FC Goa but could not do more than that.
Dempo Sports Club failed to breach the Young Boys of Tonca (YBT) defence and once again displayed their ignorance in converting opportunities into goals and this gave newcomers YBT plenty of breathing space and a crucial point.
The clash between Churchill Brothers and Sporting Clube de Goa was anticipated to be the best of the third round but failed to produce any fireworks with Trijoy Dias - the star man of Churchill brothers - wings clipped and Sporting depending too deep on Llloyd Cardozo to score.
The third round saw two newcomers – Pax of Nagoa and Cortalim Villagers – cross swords for the first time and the two neighbours did shake the cauldron of emotions here and then but not enough to leave their fans with sweet memories.
Pax of Nagoa scored first and then Cortalim tried to retaliate and that exercise exposed their inability to break into the last three to produce goals. Pax of Nagoa, on the other hand, tried to catch their opponents off guard and exposed their indecisiveness in the bargain.
The Goa Professional League is yet to see a goal with a stamp of class and the story may end that way because the youngsters that are a fulcrum of the league are not able to rub their raw talent against class.
Panjim Footballers managed to bag their first point in the GPL when they shared two goals with Guardian Angel Sports Club. Though they did score first, they were made to huff and puff during the remaining part of the game and a point was definitely better than nothing.
The GPL has taken a break as Goa starts preparations for the Santosh Trophy under the eyes of Derrick Pereira and this could be the worst assignment though a well-accepted challenge for the only individual from Goa to have won the National League title as player and coach.
Shortlisting players is going to be a task and getting them to adjust to his style of play an even bigger task. Though the GFA president Caitano Fernandes was not really happy with the choice of coaches available to choose from, Derrick was the best bet with the talent at hand.
