India can be next miracle in world football: Zico

PANAJI: Brazilian legend Zico is keen on a return to India with FC Goa and wants to help Indian football in a more “substantial way.”
“I would come back without thinking twice to India, if conditions were to be improved. I can definitely say that after five months there, I believe strongly that India can be the next miracle in football,” Zico said in comments reported by Inside World Football.
Zico coached FC Goa to the semifinals of the inaugural Indian Super League where the Goan franchise lost out to eventual winners Atletico de Kolkata in a nail-biting tiebreaker at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
“We were strong mentally, when we spent some weeks at the bottom of the league. And at the end, with the will of the players, the good work of the technical group, the support of the fans and the dedication of everyone, we reached second place at the end of the league, only one point, behind the first place,” said Zico.
“I wish I could help in a more substantial way, the football in India in a more global, national way. As I did in Iraq, in Japan. India has something amazing: Keen to learn and good heart, with impressive physical condition. A place to bet on the future, surely,” said the FC Goa chief coach.
The Brazilian legend, however, was scathing in his criticism of some players, particularly the marquee players, who he felt did not do much good to either the franchise or the competition.
“The ISL management brought some players who were in no condition to play. Simply not in shape and no capacity to be on a pitch in a game for more than 10 minutes.
“It was a serious mistake by the ISL management. They must bring players who can play. Not famous names, that are not able to even walk on the pitch,” said Zico.
The Brazilian legend was impressed with the enthusiasm for football in a country that is obsessed with cricket but felt plenty still needs to be done.
“There must be more academies created. An identity was created with those teams of ISL. Now it is time to have a calendar of events. Every month there must be a series of events linked to football and sustain that identity of the fans towards the clubs.
“It would be a shame that having created this momentum, this success and enthusiasm, that it should simply fade away,” said Zico.