I-League: Are Goan players finally ready to settle at Kolkata clubs?

Dempo legend Anthony Pereira has joined Mohun Bagan

The Bengal-Goa rivalry has been the most intense regional battle in the history of Indian football. Before the national domestic league started, the two states would battle it out regularly in the Santosh Trophy while clubs from the two regions also faced each other in various cup competitions like the Rovers Cup and Federation Cup.

In the past, Bengal were the dominant force and even in the early years of the National Football League (NFL), clubs from Kolkata were more successful than their Goan counterparts. But things have changed drastically since 2004, with no Kolkata team winning the national league ever since while Goan clubs have won the top flight eight times in the last nine seasons.

With Santosh Trophy becoming a complete sideshow, this regional battle now is entirely limited between the clubs. A big part of the rivalry between Kolkata and Goan clubs over the years has been about retaining players from their own region.

There are very few examples of a Bengali player doing well in Goa over a long period of time and vice-versa. In truth, besides goalkeepers Abhijit Mondal (Dempo) and Arindam Bhattacharya (Churchill Brothers) and current Dempo duo Debabrata Roy and Subhasish Roywchowdhury, no player from Bengal has had a long and successful spell in Goa.

At the other side of the equation, Alvito D’Cunha is the only notable exception among Goans to have had a successful career in Kolkata. The left-footed attacking midfielder arrived at East Bengal in 2002, having already won the NFL title with Salgaocar, and 11 years on has established himself as a legend at the Kolkata club.

Alvito (seating in between) is the only Goan to have had a long successful career in Kolkata

Alvito has won two league titles, four Federation Cup trophies and the ASEAN Cup with East Bengal but he mainly became a fan favourite as he stood by the club in the tough times also.

But besides him you would struggle to find even one Goan name in the NFL/I-League era who has been consistent in Kolkata over a sustained period. Former India captains and Dempo legends Mahesh Gawli and Climax Lawrence did win the league with East Bengal but both didn’t stay in Kolkata for much long.

Otherwise the list of Goan flops in Kolkata is long with many coming with a high reputation and failing in the City of Joy. Some recent failures include Bibiano Fernandes, Bernand Pires, Vincent Pires, Mickey Fernandes, Fredy Mascarenhas, Riston Rodrigues and Covan Lawrence.

A lot of it is down to the cultural differences as it’s not easy for Goans to get used to the life in Kolkata and but on the pitch also there are difficulties because every player is under intense pressure while playing for a Kolkata giant.

Hence, there is very little margin for errors and the ones who do have a couple of bad outings end up warming the bench for the rest of the season just like Cavin Lobo at East Bengal last season.

But are things changing now? Because this season we have already seen four Goans move to Kolkata. Three of them – Joaquim Abranches, Rowilson Rodrigues and Adil Khan – are among the most talented players Goa have produced recently and are currently part of the Indian national team setup.

While Dempo legend and India wide midfielder Anthony Pereira has also decided to try a new challenge with Mohun Bagan after spending his entire career in his home state, Goa.

It is worth noting, that even in the past Kolkata clubs had more financial power than Goan teams so that cannot be the only factor behind this new trend. In fact, there is a paradox as teams in Kolkata are believed to be having a financial crisis but such has been the under achievements of Mohun Bagan in recent years that they have paid more than double than what Anthony, who is well past his peak now at 31, was being offered at Dempo.

The most important reason though has to be the increase in the number of foreign coaches at I-League clubs. Previously with the presence of someone like Armando Colaco, Goan players wouldn’t contemplate the risk of trying their luck in the high pressure environment of Kolkata.

Joaquim Abranches was convinced to remain at Dempo by Armando Colaco last year

A prime example of the above factor is Joaquim Abranches, who for the last two seasons had held advanced talks with East Bengal and last year even agreed personal terms. But on Armando’s advice, Joaquim remained with Dempo. However with Armando ending his 13-year association with Dempo this time, the 27-year-old finally decided to join East Bengal.

The possibility of seeing more Goan players in Kolkata clubs in the future depends heavily on how the quartet mentioned above fares but one can only sense that the presence of so many foreign coaches has changed the scenario completely as now a player, irrespective of his place of birth, would be more eager to play for a coach like Karim Bencherifa than give importance to problems such as home sickness.

However it could all end up being a one season phenomenon if the newly-arrived Goans also flop. So only time will tell us whether the Goan footballers are actually ready now to settle at Kolkata clubs.