ISL: 5 Things you should know about FC Goa

Former Arsenal star Robert Pires will be the main man for FC GoaIndian Super League is set to take centre stage and FC Goa clearly emerges out as one of the pre-tournament favourites. FC Goa boasts of a bagful of star names with the likes of former EPL players Robert Pires and Andre Santos in the line-up to go with the legendary Brazilian midfielder Arthur Antunes Coimbra, better known as Zico as their manager.Goa enjoys a huge fan following, not only from the locals, but also around India due to the flair in their playing style and there would be a section of Arsenal faithful cheering them on.Here are 5 things the Goa faithful must know about their club. For others, it is added knowledge and not bad to have to.

#1 Only one FC Goa domestic player from a team other than Dempo SC

Co-owned by Dempo SC owner and Chairman Shrinivas Dempo, the entire local squad of FC Goa comprises of the I-League club’s players, apart from the young medio Bikramjit Singh, who is on loan from the Mariners for the next three months as he waits to make a mark in the elusive Indian Super League.

FC Goa has exciting Indian players up in their ranks in the form of Gabriel Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai, Alwyn George, Holicharan Narzary and Romeo Fernandes, who add flair to the side, while the experienced shoulders of Clifford Miranda, Peter Carvalho and other impressive list of foreigners provide the much needed calm and graft.

Dempo SC has been the most successful team in the history of the I-League winning the competition 3 out of the seven times, while they have won a total of 5 national championships, having bagged 2 titles in the NFL.

#2 It\'s Salgaocar FC owner\'s brother who co-owns the franchise alongside Kohli and Dhawan

There have been misconceptions and confusion lingering over the ownership of the FC Goa outfit in the minds of certain people.

As people heard Dempo and Salgaocar own it, it was automatically interpreted that the 2 I-League teams have got together to forge a strong ISL bond. Why are there no players from Salgaocar was the question hovering around.

While Salgaocar FC is owned by Shivanand Salgaocar, his brother, Duttaraj Salgaocar has stakes in the FC Goa outfit.

#3 FC Goa is the first sports team from India to launch their own satellite channel

While Pune FC, one of the most professionally run club in the country launched their youtube channel- PFC TV, FC Goa have gone a step further and launched their satellite channel FC Goa, going on air from 10th October, which shall be available for viewing on Videocon D2H.

Venugopal Dhoot is the Chairman of Videocon Group and has been in the board since 2005. He is one of the promoters of the Videocon group of companies and as an endeavour for promotion launched a channel for his club on his DTH service.

This comes as a breakthrough move in the Indian Sports industry, especially football which in search of a pill to make it wake up for an elongated sleep.

The FC Goa fans and other football fanatics would be able to view highlights and exclusive coverage on the channel, which shall be entirely dedicated to the club and things around it.

The step has made FC Goa stand out of the pack and make its mark in the progressive Indian football market.

#4 European Channel to do an AV on FC Goa Fan Club

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In what already is an exciting time for Indian football and Goa blooming in the sport after hosting the likes of Pires and Zico amongst others, more good news awaits for the club’s fans as a European channel, precisely French- France 2 will be doing a documentary/ AV on the city’s fan club which shall be aired in India and across Europe.

With French legend Pires heading to FC Goa along with a couple of other players, namely Youness Bengelloun and Gregory Arnolin, it has has irked interest in the nation for the Indian Super League which has spurred them to cover the buzz in the city for airing.

This shall be a big step for Indian football as it would be getting mileage not only in India, but would also be attracting attention from Europe.

#5 The Arsenal Connection

It is not only Pires or Andre Santos, but the role of the Gunners manager Arsene Wenger which makes for a strong Arsenal connection amongst the FC Goa setup.

The Arsenal fan-favourite reached Mumbai and subsequently Goa a few days ago amidst huge cheer and queues with people lining up for his autograph and many just to have a glimpse of the great man. He was then released in front of the media where the former French midfielder spoke of his glee having made it to India.

More importantly though, the former Gunner revealed of the role of Wenger in giving him a push to play in India as it is one great experience.

Everyone encouraged me. I spoke with my wife, some of the players, and I spoke with Arsène Wenger as well for his opinion. All of them said that if you have the opportunity to play in India, you need to go because it'll be a good experience,” he told the Indian Super League official media.

It was shortly followed by the announcement of signing of former Arsenal left back Andre Santos and the club gave a statement of a flair synonymous to Arsenal’s.