Head coach Zico confident of lifting ISL trophy with FC Goa

FC Goa head coach, Zico

Football legend and FC Goa coach Zico vowed to win the Indian Super League (ISL) trophy for the state while musing over the difficult challenges in the tournament’s maiden edition last year. Goa finished second in the points table last year before getting knocked out in the semi-finals of the tournament.

They had managed to secure six wins out of their 14 games scoring a total of 22 points. Their campaign ended in the hands of Atletico de Kolkata via a penalty shootout after playing a goalless draw in the 90 minutes and the following extra time.

The Legendary Brazilian Football player signed on as the club's Head Coach on 2 September 2014. On 20 September last year, FC Goa officially confirmed French World Cup Winner and Arsenal legend Robert Pires as their first marquee player.

Former Brazilian superstar interacted with the reporters on the sidelines of a programme hosted by the ISL franchise in which players and the coach had a chat with the students of Sharada Mandir school in Panaji.

"I always advice my players about the expectations and prayers that people and supporters have from the team. And as a result, I promise that we will give our everything in training and on the pitch this time and bring the trophy to Goa," the 62-year-old said.

We want to bring joy to the state: Zico

"The last time I visited this place will always be one of the most memorable and touching experiences for me since I came here after losing in the semi-finals. I hope I can bring the best out the players and make our team perform better this year and we can bring more joy and happiness to this school and state," Zico, who has scored 48 goals in 71 matches for Brazil, added.

FC Goa midfielder Leo Moura and defender Gregory Arnolin played football with the students and also posed for a few selfies with them at the event.

There is a fair chance that the new signings will prove Zico right. Elinton Andrade, who won the Beach Soccer World Cup with Portugal, will be the first-choice goalkeeper. Besides Lucio, Brazilian players Leo Moura, who captained Flamengo for a long time, young Jonatan Lucca, Victor Simoes and Reinaldo are all established names in the football world.

Among the domestic players, expectations will be high on Romeo Fernandes, the first Indian to play for a top-flight Brazilian club. Other Indians like Narayan Das, Pronay Halder and local talent Mandar Rao Desai are expected to fill the five available slots for domestic players.

The Goa-based team currently tops the ISL table with 10 points from six games, followed by Pune City, Delhi Dynamos, and Atletico De Kolkata respectively.