Anybody’s to win

Churchill Brothers FC have built a team exclusively to defend their Goa Professional League title – which they won along with Sporting Clube de Goa – but they won’t have it easy.
The coronavirus pandemic brought last season’s GPL to an abrupt end with Goa Football Association deciding to declare two teams – both in contention for the title – as champions.
This season, Churchill will not be able to field their best team. They are inside a bio-secure bubble in Kolkata where the I-League is being played. But the defending champions have assembled a separate squad, which they believe is good enough to retain the title.
That, however, is easier said than done. The league will be unpredictable, thanks to a single-leg format, absence of fans and limited preparations.
“It’s a completely new team this year. Everyone is eyeing the title. We are trying our best. We have a good team, but much depends on the day's performance,” said Churchill head coach Norberto Gonsalves.
Churchill have signed experienced midfielder Velito Cruz from Dempo SC and defender Joaquim Carvalho from Calangute Association. Mauvin Borges has continued his association with the club while former Sporting forward Trijoy Dias has joined Churchill after his one-year absence from football following a ban for assaulting a match official.
For Sporting Clube, the other joint champions, it will be an emotional return on the pitch as they begin their campaign after the death of their owner Peter Vaz.
“We have to play this year for our boss. He was the one who used to promote Goans and Goan footballers. We have to play for him and win the title,” said Sporting head coach Savio Vaz.
Peter Carvalho has left Sporting and moved to Velsao SCC, while Cajetan Fernandes has joined Sesa FA. Despite the experienced players moving elsewhere, it is Vaz’s influence that they will miss the most.
“His (Peter Vaz) inputs were very good. His reading of the match was too good. He used to always encourage junior coaches and guide us well. We will miss that,” said Savio.
The two ‘champions’ could be challenged by FC Goa, who won the league in 2018-19. The developmental side of the Indian Super League first team have promoted many players from the youth squad.
Aaren D’Silva, Sarineo Fernandes and Nestor Dias have trained with the first team and gained valuable experience, which they will share with their teammates. They have a new and young coach in Deggie Cardozo, an experienced hand at developing youth players.
“We want to develop players with the right mentality. The mindset has to be in such a way that every player in the team gives their 100 percent. We are giving more match time for every individual,” said Cardozo.
Mackroy Peixoto remains the experienced player at Salgaocar FC, apart from the youth who can spring a surprise.
Samir Naik’s Dempo SC have shown promise, finishing in the top-three for the last three seasons. Set piece specialist Suraj Hadkonkar has returned after failing to break into Churchill’s I-League squad.
Goa’s oldest club, Vasco SC, have secured the services of former India players Joaquim Abranches and Francis Fernandes.
Meanwhile, Velsao have roped in Brian Mascarenhas from I-League side Real Kashmir FC, while Ganesh Thakur has joined from Churchill.
“This time it was very difficult because of Covid, but all the club members have agreed to support. Only six players from last year are there.
“We had a strong squad last year, but this time there is a balance as we got some youngsters and seniors,” said former India captain and assistant coach of Velsao Climax Lawrence.
After Corps of Signals pulled out, First Division side Youth Club of Manora replaced them and will have a herculean task to prepare at short notice.
The league has served as a platform to attract the best scouts in the country for players. Overall, it will be an exciting 66 matches in the single-leg format this season which will be played behind closed doors at the Duler Football Stadium in Mapusa.
With little to separate the teams and not much time for preparations, this league could throw some surprise results.