Zico to remain Goa coach for next two years

Former Brazil great Zico has revealed he has received an offer to remain coach of Indian Super League (ISL) club FC Goa next year. FC Goa were last week eliminated in the semifinal by eventual champions Atletico de Kolkata.

“I spoke with the club and they want me to stay on for the next two years. I think it was a good start. Indian football needs to make the most of it because it could be very important to the country. There are big names of world football involved here from different cultures and that can’t go to waste,” Zico was quoted as saying by Xinhua on Sunday.

Zico joined the Goan side in September after ending a brief spell as coach of Qatar’s Al-Gharafa. “I have tried to do my best for the Indian players even though we haven’t had many in the team. I hope that in the coming years there are more local players so that the sport develops here.” 

Zico said he was confident the Indian club can build on its success next season. “We have planted a 

seed. It was very beautiful to see all the fans in the stadium and it’s a shame I couldn’t give them the present they wanted. But I think they realised all the effort we put into the competition to get to the semifinal,’ he said.