FC Goa youngsters speak ahead of Semi-Final

by Marina Gonsalves March 5, 2021

The Hero Indian Super League has come towards the end of the season in an unlikely time where all the teams were kept under a bio-bubble for more than 5 months. Surely staying in a bio-bubble must have been a ride filled with twist and turns for the players and the team. Redeem Tlang and Ishan Pandita shares their journey with FC Goa about the league.

Redeem Tlang started his ISL career with NorthEast United. He was with the Highlanders from 2014 on a loan and then later joined back from 2018 to 2019. Later he joined FC Goa in the 2020 ISL season. He has made 8 appearances for the Gaurs and has scored a goal.
Redeem will face his former team if NorthEast United make it to the Finals. Right now, the Highlanders are on their winning streak. They have not lost in the past 10 games.

“If we qualify for the finals and if NorthEast United qualifies, we will face each other in the finals and for me, it will be a good game to face my home team and yes it’s football and this happens.”

Time and again Redeem has proved himself and has bounced back from tough situations. On his first red card in the first game, it was initially hard for him to get back and he said, “it was hard after that match, everything went down for me. It was hard to bounce back, but finally, I’m back on the field playing for the team and I wish we win this match.”
Ishan Pandita made his debut in the ISL earlier this season for FC Goa. He has scored 4 goals and has made only 9 appearances for the club. Ishan also got the call up for the National Team earlier this week. In one of his interviews, he had mentioned that he came to the ISL so that he can get the call for the National Team and certainly it happened the same way as he thought. “I did say that I can come to India to get the National call up and that was my intention. In Spain, I was playing but not enough people knew about me I can say so I knew if I came back home, I’ll perform I would catch the attention of the National team Coach and luckily that’s what happened. If you told me before the season started to get the last 50 minutes and get the National team call up, I would not believe it at all so I’ve been lucky I guess I’m thankful and excited now.”

He also added by saying, “I have not played football at all hardly 50-60 odd minutes that’s what it is but I’ve contributed with four very crucial goals for us to be in the playoffs at the moment so I’m expected in the semis to come up and the team has done fantastic and pushing and pushing we finally made it. I feel good and looking to put some good performances against Mumbai and win that also.” Even after playing for 50-60 minutes, Ishan has the hunger to score and he wants to give the best that he can on the field and take the team to the top.

While talking about the bio-bubble both the players shared their experience by saying, “It’s tough to be in a bio-bubble for so long and it’s the first time for everyone, but it was a good experience for me and hopefully we get off the bio-bubble after the finals”, said Redeem Tlang. To this Ishan also puts some positive light by saying, “Honestly the bubble is tough but let’s look at things in a brighter aspect and everything that has happened the situation of the country and the whole world, in general, are in the same situation. We stay in a 5-Star hotel we get fed and get to play the game we love and get to train so I think it’s good and we just have a few more days and all the effort we put in is going to come out now in the next two hopefully three games. We all are focused and prepared.”

Staying secure in the bio-bubble and concentrating only on the game the team has worked hard on and off the field and has made it to the playoffs. Last year FC Goa won the League Shield and were the first Indian team to qualify for the AFC Championship group stage. In the past years FC Goa was quite dominant in the league and used to be the early qualifiers for the playoffs but this year the team struggled and made it to the playoffs.

On this Redeem explained, “Change is difficult, it’s hard and every change is difficult. If you move to a different city, it will be difficult to adapt, in the same way, if you look at the team the managers have changed, few players have left so the core of the team has changed, but as you can see, we made it to the playoffs and the struggle was hard in the beginning but now here we are and I hope we can take the team forward and win the next match and then the finals.”

FC Goa’s coach Juan Fernando has played a huge role in shaping the team. He has been a constant support to the players and has taken efforts in informing them. Ishaan expressed his gratefulness by saying, “Juan is been a very good coach and I’m thankful to him for his efforts and attention he has given me in the training and I’m doing my best in training and develop my skills under his style of play and I’m improving every day and I hope I can get some more minutes ahead.”

The team will face Mumbai City FC in their first playoff on 5th March and on 8th March for their second playoff. The team had previously faced Mumbai City FC twice this season. In the first match, Mumbai City FC won by 1-0 and in the second meet the game ended in a 3-3 draw.

While discussing facing Mumbai City FC, Ishan said, “Mumbai plays football just like us so it will be a tough game they’ll try to move the ball around and I guess I don’t know but there would be an addition of Boumous now as he is available for this and this would be a bit of a fright for us. Let’s see we have a few injuries and Noguera can’t play but we’ll put in our best and will try our best to beat Mumbai.” Redeem also added by saying, “in my opinion during the game we were controlling the ball, while they were still struggling to play against us. I think we had opportunities and chances. The next match is the semi-finals and it will be different. It will be a crucial match for both the teams so we have to be prepared.” He also mentioned the league and how each team is fighting to win the titles.

“It’s the semifinals and each team are fighting; any team can beat and can make it to the finals so we have to look forward to facing the challenges coming ahead of us,” Said Redeem.

Often, we have seen in the ISL there are less foreign strikers and some are not included in the starting XI. Most of the Indian players have changed their position to be in the starting XI either as the midfield or as the center back. Being an Indian striker Ishaan has also faced difficulties and hurdles. He says, “I think being an Indian Striker we have a work to do. It’s a matter of time and for us to grow. India doesn’t have many young Striker coming up at the moment I can say and with time and so we can develop and we can grow and we will be in the starting XI position.” He also adds ups “I can play on the wing. I have played on the wing quite sometimes as well. Like I said I’m an attacking player. You can put me on the side, back or center I’ll do all that I can. For now, all I can do is to put in good in the training session and hope the coach sees something in me or sees enough so I can be in the starting XI.

Over the years foreign players have been an integral part of the footballing history of India. From Jose Barreto to Iain Hume several foreign players have made their way to the country’s top tier football league. They have also been a shining example to the young lads and have taught them skills and tactics.

The young Shillong player has learned a lot from his foreign teammates, keeping the ball in position and playing on the mark which is important in football.

Talking about his foreign teammate Igor Angulo, Ishan said, “Igor is fantastic we get along very well and we are in two different spectrums of our career right now and I pick up a lot from him he’s done it all and he helps me a lot in training and on and off the field and he’s a fantastic player and I hope he wins the Golden boot let’s see and like I said I’m learning a lot from him and he’s a great goal scorer.”

For any athlete fans participating in a sport and supporting and cheering them is special. The support of the fans gives the players a boost and encouragement to give their best. In football, the fans are also known as the twelfth man of the game. Surely the Gaurs are missing the fans and the jam-packed stadium and the chants. The Gaurs have a message for their fans.

“It’s going to be a strange game between FC Goa and Mumbai City FC with the ex-coach and few players. We are looking forward to it and it will be a good game and we are hoping to win and go to the finals and I hope the fans will enjoy it and keep supporting us at FC Goa and thank you for the support” said Redeem.

While Ishaan added, “Thank you and I mean it for the love you guys spread and share is humbling and it’s a great feeling seeing all the comments and everything and keep supporting us you have done a fantastic job until now and we felt your presence and just that’s it 3 more finals and we can celebrate after we meet hopefully and I would love to play at Fatorda with a packed stadium so let’s see hopefully sometimes soon.”

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