Multi-lingual and multi-talented, Marcelo Pereira (Marcelinho to Indian Super League followers) expresses himself eloquently via the language of football. Fluent in five languages (Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and English), he picked up the utility value of ‘Bhai’ (brother in Hindi) to make people see his point of view. FC Pune City captain in ISL season four is an upgraded version of the ace finisher seen in action for Delhi Dynamos FC last season.
Eight goals and seven assists in the league phase for FCPC underlines value as team leader, creator and goal-scorer. Winner of the Golden Boot last season, the pacy Brazilian relishes responsibility, credits coach Ranko Popovic for Pune City’s maiden semi-final appearance and picks out Bengaluru FC’s Gurpreet Singh as the best goalkeeper in the competition.
Excerpts from a chat on phone with the widely-travelled pro:
During your first ISL experience with Delhi Dynamos, Florent Malouda pulled the strings as a creative player and you were the finisher. This season as FC Pune city captain, the role demands you to do both. Do the team results match with what you had in mind?
Yes sure this season my role demands to do both, to play more like midfield and do the same job that Malouda did. We don’t have any player like him in our team but have a finisher in (Emiliano) Alfaro.
As team leader, name the most satisfying performance and most improved player in Pune City during the league phase? Do you feel the team has quality to get better in the semifinals for the first time in four seasons?
The most satisfying performance for me personally was against ATK. It was the start of our season, our team wasn’t the most consistent side then and we weren’t connected well then, as we had a lot of young players in the squad. The situation has changed and now these same young guys are becoming the talk of the town.
It is said that a coach is only as good as his team. Your thoughts on Ranko Popovic’s influence on team performance, taking into account that a major part of his work was with players already contracted before he took charge?
He is very intelligent and experienced. He knows how to manage the situations. If we are in semis, a great deal of credit goes to him.
ISL season four has seen so many stunning goals scored from different angles and by different players. Among the goalkeepers at the receiving end, any ‘keeper caught your eye as being difficult to beat? Explain.
The Bengaluru FC keeper (Gurpreet Singh) is the best.
You picked up languages playing in different parts of the world as a pro. It proves that you go beyond sport and try to get a feel of places and people. Can you describe the ISL experience here, getting to know the language of Indian football?
This has to be the most amazing experience of my life so far. I am learning so much in interactions with Indian people. I am finding happiness and good energy from the people here.
Among the Brazilians coming to play the ISL, you are successful in doing what you are paid for, over two seasons back-to-back (Delhi Dynamos and Pune City). Has the ISL changed you in any way, as a player and as person?
For sure, here I am getting better every day. The fans and the team want something different from me and I also want to share whatever I can with the younger players. As a person, since I am far away from home and all this experience here is making me strong emotionally My family cannot be here, since my daughter has school to attend. I am not only becoming stronger as a person but also finding happiness and comfort in an amazing country like India.
Footballers from Brazil are expected to somehow make things happen on the pitch and win matches, at every level of competition. Do you enjoy the extra responsibility? In your career so far, which club brought out the best in you and why?
I enjoy that bit lot and love this responsibility too. It challenges me and makes me stronger. My Italian club (Catania) brought out the best in me, because y you need to be perfect tactically playing in Italy otherwise you can lose the game in no time.
Attacking football is the theme of big clubs, looking to win by huge margins and entertain at the same time. The way Barcelona, PSG, Manchester City are humiliating rivals, do you feel that in the near future, convincing kids to take up goalkeeping or defence will become a problem?
Attack is the best defense. I don’t like to play defensive always, that’s my personal thought. I think it (convincing kids to take up goalkeeping or defending) will not be a problem because it depends on the talent of an individual.
Masterstroke
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Marcelinho’s career got a kickstart at Flamengo U-20, he then got drafted into Atletico Madrid and Getafe B squads in Spain, the football journey took him to Greece (Xanthi FC), Italy (Catania), United Arab Emirates (Baniyas Club )and Brazil (Avai Fc). FC Pune City pulled off a masterstroke by signing the Brazilian, beating back challenges from ISL franchises chasing the Golden Boot winner
Bench-warmer at Mohun Bagan to regular at FC Pune City, the rise of Sarthak Golui
Sarthak Golui has been one of the standout performers for FC Pune City this season. Thanks to Serbian manager Ranko Popovic’s policy of handing out chances to young Indian players, the 20-year-old former Mohun Bagan defender has also got an opportunity to showcase his talent.
Sarthak got his primary lessons in football from his father before joining Bally AC - a club that has produced the likes of former Indian Olympics team captain Samar (Badru) Banerjee and Satyajit Chatterjee, However, he later moved to Uttarpara and is one of the most prominent names to have come out of the academy of Bastab Roy, who is now a part of the Atletico de Kolkata coaching staff.
Golui was not a part of the Indian Super League (ISL) player draft this year and thus wasn’t a part of the Pune City squad initially. He started the season with Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Football League (CFL). Coach Sankarlal Chakraborty, who was in charge of the side at that time, preferred new signing Arijit Bagui, who came from local side Peerless SC, over Sarthak, who has been a part of the Bagan squad for more than a season.
Bagui’s impressive show on the right side of the backline limited Golui’s opportunities in a Mohun Bagan shirt and with the presence of Abhishek Das, who joined the side from Chennai City FC and former Pailan Arrows defender Gurjinder Kumar, it was always going to be difficult for the youngster to get regular game time.
But he did play for the India U23 side in the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in 2017 and made two appearances.
During mid-September, just before the ISL sides began their pre-season training, FC Pune City roped in Sarthak on loan for the 2017/18 season. It was an opportunity for young Sarthak to be a part of an ISL side but there was a fair chance that he would once again warm the bench, as he used to during I-League 2016/17 season at Bagan.
The defender was a part of Sanjoy Sen’s Mohun Bagan side in I-League last season but failed to make a single appearance for the club in the league. Primarily a centre-back, it was always going to be difficult for the youngster to break into the starting XI which had Brazilian Eduardo Ferreira and India international Anas Edathodika. Thus, the AIFF Elite Academy graduate’s chances were only limited to AFC Cup matches.
Surprisingly, Ranko Popovic decided to start Golui as a right-back in Pune’s opening ISL match against Delhi Dynamos. Thereafter, the Indian defender went on to play 14 matches for the side in the league stage out of which he started in 10. He played 1009 minutes in the league so far and has scored one goal.
On getting an opportunity to play for the Stallions, the defender said, "I was in Mohun Bagan but there were other big names in the side so I did not get enough game time. Then I got an offer from FC Pune City. Initially, I didn’t think I’ll get to play so many matches for the club. But I was ready to give my best. Our coach (Ranko Popovic) trusted me and I could play so many matches (14). So far it has been a great journey."
Sarthak has been one of the finds of ISL 2017/18 season. Under Popovic, he has blossomed to be one of the best Indian defenders in the ongoing season. He is already in Indian national team coach Stephen Constantine’s radar and has been a part of the Indian squad on quite a few occasions in the past.
Speaking about his ambitions of playing for the national team, Sarthak said, "I am trying my best and giving my hundred percent every day and trying to improve my game. Now if the coach (Stephen Constantine) thinks that I am worthy of being a part of the Indian side, I will try my best. It is obviously my dream to represent the country."
With the Asian Cup coming up in a year’s time, the young defender will look forward to continuing his good form at the domestic level and consolidate his place in the Indian side.
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Multi-lingual and multi-talented, Marcelo Pereira (Marcelinho to Indian Super League followers) expresses himself eloquently via the language of football. Fluent in five languages (Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and English), he picked up the utility value of ‘Bhai’ (brother in Hindi) to make people see his point of view. FC Pune City captain in ISL season four is an upgraded version of the ace finisher seen in action for Delhi Dynamos FC last season.
Eight goals and seven assists in the league phase for FCPC underlines value as team leader, creator and goal-scorer. Winner of the Golden Boot last season, the pacy Brazilian relishes responsibility, credits coach Ranko Popovic for Pune City’s maiden semi-final appearance and picks out Bengaluru FC’s Gurpreet Singh as the best goalkeeper in the competition.
Excerpts from a chat on phone with the widely-travelled pro:
During your first ISL experience with Delhi Dynamos, Florent Malouda pulled the strings as a creative player and you were the finisher. This season as FC Pune city captain, the role demands you to do both. Do the team results match with what you had in mind?
Yes sure this season my role demands to do both, to play more like midfield and do the same job that Malouda did. We don’t have any player like him in our team but have a finisher in (Emiliano) Alfaro.
As team leader, name the most satisfying performance and most improved player in Pune City during the league phase? Do you feel the team has quality to get better in the semifinals for the first time in four seasons?
The most satisfying performance for me personally was against ATK. It was the start of our season, our team wasn’t the most consistent side then and we weren’t connected well then, as we had a lot of young players in the squad. The situation has changed and now these same young guys are becoming the talk of the town.
It is said that a coach is only as good as his team. Your thoughts on Ranko Popovic’s influence on team performance, taking into account that a major part of his work was with players already contracted before he took charge?
He is very intelligent and experienced. He knows how to manage the situations. If we are in semis, a great deal of credit goes to him.
ISL season four has seen so many stunning goals scored from different angles and by different players. Among the goalkeepers at the receiving end, any ‘keeper caught your eye as being difficult to beat? Explain.
The Bengaluru FC keeper (Gurpreet Singh) is the best.
You picked up languages playing in different parts of the world as a pro. It proves that you go beyond sport and try to get a feel of places and people. Can you describe the ISL experience here, getting to know the language of Indian football?
This has to be the most amazing experience of my life so far. I am learning so much in interactions with Indian people. I am finding happiness and good energy from the people here.
Among the Brazilians coming to play the ISL, you are successful in doing what you are paid for, over two seasons back-to-back (Delhi Dynamos and Pune City). Has the ISL changed you in any way, as a player and as person?
For sure, here I am getting better every day. The fans and the team want something different from me and I also want to share whatever I can with the younger players. As a person, since I am far away from home and all this experience here is making me strong emotionally My family cannot be here, since my daughter has school to attend. I am not only becoming stronger as a person but also finding happiness and comfort in an amazing country like India.
Footballers from Brazil are expected to somehow make things happen on the pitch and win matches, at every level of competition. Do you enjoy the extra responsibility? In your career so far, which club brought out the best in you and why?
I enjoy that bit lot and love this responsibility too. It challenges me and makes me stronger. My Italian club (Catania) brought out the best in me, because y you need to be perfect tactically playing in Italy otherwise you can lose the game in no time.
Attacking football is the theme of big clubs, looking to win by huge margins and entertain at the same time. The way Barcelona, PSG, Manchester City are humiliating rivals, do you feel that in the near future, convincing kids to take up goalkeeping or defence will become a problem?
Attack is the best defense. I don’t like to play defensive always, that’s my personal thought. I think it (convincing kids to take up goalkeeping or defending) will not be a problem because it depends on the talent of an individual.
Masterstroke
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Marcelinho’s career got a kickstart at Flamengo U-20, he then got drafted into Atletico Madrid and Getafe B squads in Spain, the football journey took him to Greece (Xanthi FC), Italy (Catania), United Arab Emirates (Baniyas Club )and Brazil (Avai Fc). FC Pune City pulled off a masterstroke by signing the Brazilian, beating back challenges from ISL franchises chasing the Golden Boot winner
Bench-warmer at Mohun Bagan to regular at FC Pune City, the rise of Sarthak Golui
Sarthak Golui has been one of the standout performers for FC Pune City this season. Thanks to Serbian manager Ranko Popovic’s policy of handing out chances to young Indian players, the 20-year-old former Mohun Bagan defender has also got an opportunity to showcase his talent.
Sarthak got his primary lessons in football from his father before joining Bally AC - a club that has produced the likes of former Indian Olympics team captain Samar (Badru) Banerjee and Satyajit Chatterjee, However, he later moved to Uttarpara and is one of the most prominent names to have come out of the academy of Bastab Roy, who is now a part of the Atletico de Kolkata coaching staff.
Golui was not a part of the Indian Super League (ISL) player draft this year and thus wasn’t a part of the Pune City squad initially. He started the season with Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Football League (CFL). Coach Sankarlal Chakraborty, who was in charge of the side at that time, preferred new signing Arijit Bagui, who came from local side Peerless SC, over Sarthak, who has been a part of the Bagan squad for more than a season.
Bagui’s impressive show on the right side of the backline limited Golui’s opportunities in a Mohun Bagan shirt and with the presence of Abhishek Das, who joined the side from Chennai City FC and former Pailan Arrows defender Gurjinder Kumar, it was always going to be difficult for the youngster to get regular game time.
But he did play for the India U23 side in the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in 2017 and made two appearances.
During mid-September, just before the ISL sides began their pre-season training, FC Pune City roped in Sarthak on loan for the 2017/18 season. It was an opportunity for young Sarthak to be a part of an ISL side but there was a fair chance that he would once again warm the bench, as he used to during I-League 2016/17 season at Bagan.
The defender was a part of Sanjoy Sen’s Mohun Bagan side in I-League last season but failed to make a single appearance for the club in the league. Primarily a centre-back, it was always going to be difficult for the youngster to break into the starting XI which had Brazilian Eduardo Ferreira and India international Anas Edathodika. Thus, the AIFF Elite Academy graduate’s chances were only limited to AFC Cup matches.
Surprisingly, Ranko Popovic decided to start Golui as a right-back in Pune’s opening ISL match against Delhi Dynamos. Thereafter, the Indian defender went on to play 14 matches for the side in the league stage out of which he started in 10. He played 1009 minutes in the league so far and has scored one goal.
On getting an opportunity to play for the Stallions, the defender said, "I was in Mohun Bagan but there were other big names in the side so I did not get enough game time. Then I got an offer from FC Pune City. Initially, I didn’t think I’ll get to play so many matches for the club. But I was ready to give my best. Our coach (Ranko Popovic) trusted me and I could play so many matches (14). So far it has been a great journey."
Sarthak has been one of the finds of ISL 2017/18 season. Under Popovic, he has blossomed to be one of the best Indian defenders in the ongoing season. He is already in Indian national team coach Stephen Constantine’s radar and has been a part of the Indian squad on quite a few occasions in the past.
Speaking about his ambitions of playing for the national team, Sarthak said, "I am trying my best and giving my hundred percent every day and trying to improve my game. Now if the coach (Stephen Constantine) thinks that I am worthy of being a part of the Indian side, I will try my best. It is obviously my dream to represent the country."
With the Asian Cup coming up in a year’s time, the young defender will look forward to continuing his good form at the domestic level and consolidate his place in the Indian side.