Waking up to the reality of Goa’s football dream

The dream that Manolo Marquez took all FC Goa fans on, has ended and with that all have woken to the reality that football brains are a pre-requisite for good football, at least in Goa.

FC Goa, except for a brief spell under Sergio Lobera – which finished with a lot of unanswered questions – has not really understood the nuances of the bounce of the ball and hence the highs and lows that have always ended with fans returning home disappointed.

Coaches kept changing, and along with coaches, players were roped in only to be hurled out of the reckoning, and the Goa content in FC Goa never really remained local.

Except perhaps for Brandon, Goa’s best talent has been fleeting around clubs all over the country, and the team that was bought by Jaydev Mody for the Indian Super League (ISL). We have seen the use of brand Goa, and the game has just received lip service.

Manolo came in from Hyderabad at the best time for himself because he knew it was not only time for him to leave but the boys too because of the club’s financial situation.

He came to Goa and brought along with him some players of his old team who could tag along. In the bargain, the Goan talent in the FC Goa pool got wasted, and a player – just one example – like Devendra Murgaonkar, melted into oblivion.

Devendra was just getting into the groove in the previous season, and when it looked like he was reaching his levels, he hardly got any minutes under Manolo.

The same happened to Liston when he was part of FC Goa when Sergio was at the helm, and see where the lad has reached.

FC Goa was not a mess. Actually, they finished the best after the exit of Lobera, so in that way, Monolo has done well for himself.

But, finishing third or second is not what a fan wants. He wants his team to be the best and that, too, consistently.

Consistency has dodged FC Goa or its management. Seriton Fernandes was growing as a good right-back. He got an Indian call up, but this could well be termed as his worst season with the team.

The boy from South Goa, who not only defended but propped up his colleagues upfront, was a pale shadow of himself. It is difficult to understand his laidback approach. And, it is such mysteries that will keep fans away.

Manolo brought in a new goalkeeper, and Dheeraj was given a late start. The former showed good reflexes and a strong mind last year, but once again, like Seriton was not the same Dheeraj the fans knew.

At times, he appeared to be confusion confounded. He could have definitely done far better.

The 2023-2024 FC Goa season was static – pass the ball upfront to Noah, expect him to run and shoot and score, or pass the ball to a colleague to score. If that failed, expect Brandon to weave the ball around until he was substituted.

There is no charm when a sport is so predictable and, if anything, Manolo got FC Goa into that warp.

Winning is great and losing too can be a pleasure to the eye when the unexpected keeps popping up.

Unfortunately, despite finishing third, FC Goa did so without the zest of football that Goa is associated with. If Nehru stadium in Fatorda used to be full to the brim in the initial years, it was because FC Goa was Goa, and not a brand. It has never been the same thereafter.

In its 10^th year, ISL is set for perhaps one of its best-ever finals in a place that football has another home.

With teams from the I-League jumping into the ISL every year, and with teams no longer needing to pay ISL franchise fee from next season, but a commission of its seasonal revenue, football is in for better times.

Better times specially for Goa because Dempo SC has just joined the I-League, and soon, it will be difficult for the best teams in India to silence the roar from the Dempo den.

Then, the roll will begin and the gambler in FC Goa may call it a day! Football and its fans will be the best to decide.