FC Goa fans at Tilak Maidan for the first preseason game.

FC Goa, one of the eight teams to compete in the 2014 Hero Indian Super League (ISL) to be held between October and December, have already established a significant fan base. Fans, both young and old, are rooting for the team from Goa. While some are ardent fans of former French international footballer, Robert Pirès, who is best known for his time with Arsenal, others see emerging heroes in local stars like Clifford Miranda for his strength to adapt to different positions and his footwork, Edgar Marcelino for his dribbling and finishing skills, and Alwyn George for the attacking midfielder position. Zico however, is a favourite with all.

Rhys Mascarenhas, 28, found his love for football by accident. His uncle engaged in football and usually asked 10-year-old Rhys to accompany him to the games, often having to bribe him with an ice cream or Coca Cola. Today, Rhys is an ardent follower of the sport and is a partner in his own sports talent management agency.

This month, the footie fan from Vasco has been visiting Tilak Maidan, Vasco, every day to watch FC Goa train. Speaking about the football franchise, FC Goa, he says, “This team looks very promising. There are a lot of youngsters playing in it and they are very dedicated to their game. Moreover, they have Zico coaching them!”

“FC Goa has a fabulous line up,” opines Richard Dias, business partner, Radioactive Entertainment, and an ardent football lover, “I’m an Arsenal fan so it’s exciting to see Robert Pirès and Andre Santos signed up for the team. I saw the friendly matches that FC Goa recently played against Sesa Academy and the India under-19; it was a good game. With the team putting up a good show, it will only get stronger.”

Yolanda D'Souza, artist and a former international football player, says, “FC Goa is a great initiative, we have really good backing in the name of Zico and this will help us move one step forward. Zico is magic, but for the magic to work, all the players should put their best foot forward; it is only time that will tell what happens.”

FC Goa manager and chief coach Zico during a training session at Tilak Maidan.

Sharing his thoughts on the ISL, Mascarenhas comments, “The ISL has evoked an interest in a lot of people. Due to the influence of the ISL, a lot of non-football lovers are also nurturing an interest in football. FC Goa, for instance have the star power of Zico and Robert Pirès; the kind of buzz this has created among the public is evident in the reception they are getting. The ISL will increase the followers of football, improve the infrastructure of the sport in India and sponsors will also come in as a result.”

Noel Rodrigues, 65, has been a frequent visitor to Tilak Maidan and in more than half a century, the sexagenarian has watched hundreds of matches at the local, national and international level. “I have been watching matches on this ground since my childhood. Football has evolved a lot since then not just in terms of the infrastructure but also the professionalism. But, I had never imagined in my wildest dreams that someone like Zico or Pirès would come to Goa and train our local boys to play at this level of competition,” exclaims Rodrigues.

Shy and soft spoken, Danny Furtado, 21, makes sure that he finishes his work every day at The HQ Hotel, Vasco, as soon as possible so that he and his companions can watch their football hero Pirès train at the ground. The boys had designed and printed a colourful banner displaying Pirès and FC Goa and turned up at the Dabolim Airport to welcome their hero. “There was a lot of people so we couldn’t reach him,” says a starry-eyed Furtado. “But we have been visiting the grounds everyday simply to watch him play and will get the banner signed by him soon,” he adds opening up the 5X6 banner that he was carrying along to get autographed.

Commenting on the contribution of the ISL to Indian football, fans feel that there will be a lot of improvement in the quality of football in Goa which will assist in elevating the standard of the game. “We have a lot of big names in the team, so one can expect FC Goa to perform exceedingly well,” opines Rodrigues. “The players have been implementing the skills taught to them by Zico; this was evident in the friendly game that FC Goa played against Sesa and the India u-19 squad.”

Rhys also points how the humility of the Brazilian football legend is helping boost the confidence of the players. “Coaches usually monitor the training sessions and make the assistant coach do all the running around. Unlike them, Zico himself is training the players, ably assisted by Arthur Papas. He is constantly guiding them and instructing them how to go about it. He’s very relaxed on the field and does not put any pressure on the players either. Also, training under the wing of Zico, players can probably learn to incorporate the Brazilian style of play.”