Goan players have good technique but that’s not enough in modern football: Manolo

Panaji: If he had enough options, FC Goa coach Manolo Marquez said he would field 11 Goan players for the senior team in the Indian Super League (ISL).He doesn’t have enough right now. For the last clash against Odisha FC, Manolo handpicked goalkeeper Bob Jackson Raj and midfielder Harsh Patre for rare starting roles, while Brison Fernandes was a second-half substitute.“We need to continue working at the grassroots, in the academy, to ensure that development team players progress to the senior squad,” Manolo told reporters during his pre-match media interaction last week. “Some players have already trained with us, played some games. It’s not just about having Goan players (in the senior team). They must be ready.”This season, Sitroy Carvalho, Malsawmtlunga, Vellington Fernandes, Jovial Dias and Lionel Rymmei were all handed the chance to train with the senior team.

Centre-back Sitroy, one of the most promising players with the development squad, even made appearances in the AFC Champions League Two and Super Cup.Prachit Gaonkar was another player who graduated from the juniors to senior team last season and later featured in the ISL, a long tradition that has seen a steady lineup of players make progress since 2018.“The youngsters are doing well with the development squad. I must take this opportunity to congratulate the team for making it to the semifinals for the second time in a row.

Goa are the only side to make it (for two years in a row) and that tells you the quality. It’s not easy, and the team has a lot of Goan players,” said Manolo.Manolo was congratulating the team for making it to the knockout stage of the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), an under-21 tournament for the best teams in the country. Last season, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Classic FA, Jamshedpur and FC Goa made it to the last four. This time around, Goa remain the only side to enter the knockout stage from last season’s quartet and have infact done better by qualifying for the final where they will be up against Bengaluru FC on Saturday.It won’t be easy for Goa against the impeccable Bengaluru, a side teeming with some of the country’s best young footballers, largely from Manipur. Their 10-0 aggregate win against Kerala Blasters in the semifinal came as no surprise for those who have followed the competition.That Goa made it to the final for the first time is commendable.“It’s not easy with so many top teams and elite young players,” said Manolo.The experienced former India coach has a point. Sixteen players from the recent India U-20 SAFF Championship squad featured in the semifinals across the four teams.

Of the 64 players who took the field, Goa and Kerala had 11 each from the state, the second best after Manipur (25).“I think technically, Goans are very good players, but in modern football that is not enough. Maybe in the past, this quality (alone) would be good, but now you need to be quick thinking. It’s not about being strong but smart. When you receive the ball, you know that the opponent will press, so you should be able to improvise and adapt.“If you see the Goa Professional League, all teams play from the back. Technically, Goan players are fine, but we need something more in terms of physicality and everything else. If Goa continues to work at the grassroots, in the academy, you will see a lot many Goan players in the senior team very soon,” said Manolo.That would be music to the ears of the youngsters at FC Goa.Manolo was in the stands for the semifinals against Punjab FC and walked up to the squad after they had booked their place in the final. Next season, he’s certain to welcome some of them to the senior team.