FC Goa wants ‘maximum Goans’ in team for third edition of ISL

Panaji: In the middle of a heated debate about the ‘local’ versus ‘outsider,’ FC Goa CEO

Sukhvinder Singh

made it a point to say that they were delighted that it now had more Goans than ever before.

A recent change in ownership saw Dattaraj Salgaocar and Shrinivas Dempo exit the franchise, and the 65 percent stake that they left behind being picked up by casino entrepreneur

Jaydev Mody

. Goa’s legislative assembly is debating the absence of a Goan co-owner and Sukhvinder’s assertion about their growing list of Goans was possibly to assuage local sentiment.

“There have been a few signing opportunities and I will confirm with you soon on the names. But this I can assure you that we will have the maximum number of Goan players this year (nine) compared to the previous two years,” Sukhvinder told reporters during a press conference on Thursday.

FC Goa had eight Goan players during the second edition last year and have either signed or shortlisted eight players for this edition. If Sukhvinder and FC Goa stay true to their word of having nine Goans, Zico’s squad will have to utilise its maximum quota of domestic players.

Each franchise must sign a minimum of 13 domestic players – which includes a under-23 and under-21 developmental player – and can extend the domestic player quota to 15.

For now, FC Goa have confirmed the signings of players like Prathesh Shirodkar, Keenan Almeida, Laxmikant Kattimani, Denzil Franco, Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai and Fulgancio Cardozo, while Dempo Sports Club midfielder Sahil Tavora will join the franchise as its under-23 recruit.

That makes it eight Goan players and should Brandon Fernandes pass the medical test in the next couple of days, it will take FC Goa’s signings to a maximum of 15 domestic players but at the expense of an international player.

“FC Goa have already confirmed its list of domestic players. Coach Zico had a meeting with the technical officials and was briefed about the list of players. He has okayed a couple of new players, which includes Sahil,” said a source.

Another new player who is set to join FC Goa is Sanjay Balmuchu. The defender made a name for himself at Churchill Brothers but has gone unnoticed since falling out of favour with the club and joining Mohun Bagan. According to sources, Balmuchu and Raju Gaekwad will be the central-defensive domestic options but indications are that Balmuchu is being preferred because he can also play as a defensive midfielder, a big hole that Goa is struggling to fill, thanks to the departures of Pronay Halder (Mumbai City FC), Bikramjit Singh (Atletico de Kolkata) and Denson Devadas (Delhi Dynamos).

There are also indications that goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury has got the nod to join FC Goa, subject to a fitness test. Subhashish has been out of action for some time now and, should he pass a fitness test, Zico will keep the faith with an all-Indian goalkeeping line-up for the first time.

“It is mandatory for all teams to sign three goalkeepers and at least one under-21 player. If Goa gets a under-21 goalkeeper, both problems will be solved,” said the source.

If the under-21 goalkeeper is a Goan, FC Goa may have the maximum number of Goans but are there enough out there?

GOAN CONNECTION:

2016: Prathesh Shirodkar, Keenan Almeida, Laxmikant Kattimani, Denzil Franco, Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai, Fulgancio Cardozo and Sahil Tavora

2015: Luis Barreto, Laxmikant Kattimani, Mandar Rao Desai, Romeo Fernandes, Victorino Fernandes, Nicolau Colaco, Joaquim Abranches and Keenan Almeida