Could be at at FC Goa for more than a year: Zico

Panaji, Aug 4 (IANS) Brazilian football legend Zico on Thursday hinted, that he could be associated with Indian Super League (ISL) outfit FC Goa for more than the contracted one year stint and also rooted for a longer ISL season which he said would benefit Indian football.

"I have signed for one year for this season, but we have a verbal agreement that I will come for two years to see this vision through," said Zico, on whose watch FC Goa reached the semi-finals and the finals in the first two ISL seasons.

Speaking to reporters after being formally unveiled as the head coach of FC Goa for the third-year running, Zico also said that he would love to have marquee player and last season's captain Lucio back in the team, along with forward Thongkhosiem Haokip, who has switched over to Kerala Blasters.

The former star midfielder also said that there was enough time to train the squad ahead of the new season, but also added that he would have liked to have players like Lucio and Haokip in his team.

"We have time enough to to build our team and play well... Of course some players have left the clubs. I wish I could count on them and they have their minds to do whatever they want and look out for opportunities for themselves," Zico said, adding that that players leaving for greener pastures was a common phenomenon in the world of football.

"When I came in the first year, I did not know anyone and the team reached the semi-final. In the second year, we changed 15 players and we reached the finals. It happens with all the teams, sometimes you lose a player, it is normal," he added.

"If he (Lucio) comes, I will be very glad, because he was one or two of the marquee players that played more games and he will be a greatest help for all of us. I would like Haokip, but he was signed by Kerala, what can I do."

Zico also said that the ISL needed to learn from countries like Japan and Uzbekistan, which had managed to turn around their football fortunes, because of a longer season, which he said bodes well for building quality players.

"I have defended this since the first year that I arrived to Goa. Always I give an example of two countries that I worked in Uzbekistan and Japan. They have succeeded very well, Japan and Uzbekistan because they have a long tournament and it benefited the national players. This is my desire," Zico said.

--IANS

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