I love how you guys are so focused on the fact SESA lost on maybe a fixed match instead of focusing on how they almost beat the champions of India!
Come on! SESA and their batch of young Indian players just took on and challenged the best in India and this is the response! Be proud my Goan friends for the future is bright for football in Goa.
DURAND CUP DISASTER FOR RESILIENT SESA FA Have you ever gone through that moment when you've fallen in love and you're about to see that dream come through ? And then suddenly someone grabs that girl away in a very unfair circumstance. How then would you feel ? The same incident happened today at Raia Sports Complex, When Sesa FA the elite football academy of Goa were denied a spot in the Semi-Final due to some pretty awful refereeing. The I-league champions surged ahead in the 2nd half when India Captain Sunil Chettri slotted from a spot kick after Sesa defender Ponif Vaz handeled the ball in the penalty area, The young Sesa Fa lads most of whom were U-20 players from Goa did not give up and were rewarded with the equalizer when substitute Agnelo Colaco equalized off a brilliant long shot. In the Dying minutes Sesa Fa played their hearts out and surprised the I-league champions when substitute Melwyn Fernandes scored an amazing goal when he curled the ball into the far corner giving no chance to the Bengaluru Fc keeper. The Controversy started in the last minute of added time. Bengaluru Fc got a corner and defender John Johnson came in for Curtis Osano, The big man Johnson who is a graduate from the Middlesbrough youth academy was apparently pulled by Sesa Fa's Melwyn Fernandes (Who's half the size Johnson is.) and the big English defender fell on the ground way too easily. All this happened when the corner kick wasn't even taken. Usually in the premier league there would be a warning before the corner kick is taken, but here the Referee pointed to the dreaded spot and Sunil Chettri equalized for the team from Bangalore. The crowd refused to leave the stadium and wished to know why the penalty was awarded. One of the main reasons why the disappointment was bitter is because Sesa FA are a team that represent the future stars of Goan football and the boys really played well. At a time when we're talking about the ISL and how it will change Indian football, Durand Cup is Asia's and India's oldest tournament but the officiating level is so pathetic at times. Match commissioner Mr.Nagvenkar however defended he's referee stating that the penalty decision was absolutely correct... I must say it is a very sad day for Goan football. Most of the crowd present at Raia where really disappointed to such an extent that some of them pledged never to come to watch any Durand Cup matches.
If BFC is having tough time beating SESA, I do not really expect much from BFC at AFC. Hope BFC guys prove me wrong. Even on their Chinese tour they did not win a single match.
It was referee mistake. Please dont go around on Army/Durand Cup ... Really SESA played well and deserved to be in the semifinals. Nature of the game.. really sad...
Salgaocar vs Laxmi Prasad showed one glaring issue ....which I am glad to see...
The difference between a genuinely good/hard working foreigner's and the old school Shitty Nigerians like ND Opara and Chika Wali.....if Laxmi Prasad had proper professional foreigner's like a Duffy/Douhou they would've beaten Salgaocar.. LP have some good I-league rejects and some upcoming player's. .but a hopeless goalkeeper.
As for the 2nd game...its clear BFC have a strong team when they play with their foreign spine...but when you force them to play with 2 foreigner's they struggle. Robin Singh is probably more focussed on ISL than I-League & is missing his opportunity to share make-up ideas with Abhishek Bachhan ! BFC won 1 game on away tour..but on yesterday's form they need to buy 3 to 4 better Indians if they wamt to avoid embaressment at AFC
The refereeing at the Durand Cup has been horrendous from day 1...but with thw best refs away at ISL it was tough to expect anything less.
Worse news is that Tilak Ground will not be used for semis or finals. ..so once again Durand Cup finals will be played on a worn out bumpy pitch .
Yesterday's performance just reiterated what i was telling AIFF folks...such tournaments should be forced to allow 1 Academy team in each group as direct entry. We are doing very little for yourh development. ..and such tournament's have traditionally unearthed future talent / stars.... SESA knocked out AIFF on PK's...and given their performance. ..maybe AIFF boys couldve had a chance to shock an I-league team too..and TFA wouldve been competitive too.
@7negi...not sure whether they will sign nrw player's as they seemed to have taken a tough stance on ISL player's. ..but from what i have seen...they need 2 to 3 more player's. .
Knowing them...they will look at AIFF or SESA or TFA kids rather than ISL guys
Comments
Have you ever gone through that moment when you've fallen
in love and you're about to see that dream come through ?
And then suddenly someone grabs that girl away in a very
unfair circumstance. How then would you feel ? The same
incident happened today at Raia Sports Complex, When Sesa
FA the elite football academy of Goa were denied a spot in the
Semi-Final due to some pretty awful refereeing. The I-league
champions surged ahead in the 2nd half when India Captain
Sunil Chettri slotted from a spot kick after Sesa defender
Ponif Vaz handeled the ball in the penalty area, The young
Sesa Fa lads most of whom were U-20 players from Goa did
not give up and were rewarded with the equalizer when
substitute Agnelo Colaco equalized off a brilliant long shot. In
the Dying minutes Sesa Fa played their hearts out and
surprised the I-league champions when substitute Melwyn
Fernandes scored an amazing goal when he curled the ball
into the far corner giving no chance to the Bengaluru Fc
keeper. The Controversy started in the last minute of added
time. Bengaluru Fc got a corner and defender John Johnson
came in for Curtis Osano, The big man Johnson who is a
graduate from the Middlesbrough youth academy was
apparently pulled by Sesa Fa's Melwyn Fernandes (Who's half
the size Johnson is.) and the big English defender fell on the
ground way too easily. All this happened when the corner kick
wasn't even taken. Usually in the premier league there would
be a warning before the corner kick is taken, but here the
Referee pointed to the dreaded spot and Sunil Chettri
equalized for the team from Bangalore. The crowd refused to
leave the stadium and wished to know why the penalty was
awarded. One of the main reasons why the disappointment
was bitter is because Sesa FA are a team that represent the
future stars of Goan football and the boys really played well.
At a time when we're talking about the ISL and how it will
change Indian football, Durand Cup is Asia's and India's
oldest tournament but the officiating level is so pathetic at
times. Match commissioner Mr.Nagvenkar however defended
he's referee stating that the penalty decision was absolutely
correct... I must say it is a very sad day for Goan football.
Most of the crowd present at Raia where really disappointed
to such an extent that some of them pledged never to come to
watch any Durand Cup matches.
The difference between a genuinely good/hard working foreigner's and the old school Shitty Nigerians like ND Opara and Chika Wali.....if Laxmi Prasad had proper professional foreigner's like a Duffy/Douhou they would've beaten Salgaocar.. LP have some good I-league rejects and some upcoming player's. .but a hopeless goalkeeper.
As for the 2nd game...its clear BFC have a strong team when they play with their foreign spine...but when you force them to play with 2 foreigner's they struggle. Robin Singh is probably more focussed on ISL than I-League & is missing his opportunity to share make-up ideas with Abhishek Bachhan !
BFC won 1 game on away tour..but on yesterday's form they need to buy 3 to 4 better Indians if they wamt to avoid embaressment at AFC
The refereeing at the Durand Cup has been horrendous from day 1...but with thw best refs away at ISL it was tough to expect anything less.
Worse news is that Tilak Ground will not be used for semis or finals. ..so once again Durand Cup finals will be played on a worn out bumpy pitch .
Yesterday's performance just reiterated what i was telling AIFF folks...such tournaments should be forced to allow 1 Academy team in each group as direct entry. We are doing very little for yourh development. ..and such tournament's have traditionally unearthed future talent / stars....
SESA knocked out AIFF on PK's...and given their performance. ..maybe AIFF boys couldve had a chance to shock an I-league team too..and TFA wouldve been competitive too.
Damn. ..i don't know what's going on...seem to be doing that a lot lately #-o
Knowing them...they will look at AIFF or SESA or TFA kids rather than ISL guys