Margao: So, what next? So far, nothing really.FC Goa will play the concluding match of their AFC Champions League Two group-stage clash against Istiklol FC (Tajikistan) at home on Wednesday without knowing when or if they will regroup for the remainder of the season.In a normal season, on Christmas Eve, Fatorda would be full of excitement. The stadium will look like a festival; The mood will be somber now as uncertainty over the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL) has put players, coaches, support staff and their families at risk.“The situation in Indian football is very difficult,” coach Manolo Marquez told TOI at the end of a training session at the athletic stadium in Bambolim. “In these circumstances, it is difficult to motivate the players, but we are professionals and will try to win. Obviously, we won the Super Cup, and now that we are playing at home, in front of our own fans, we have to play for pride.”Goa have had a mixed campaign in Asian football’s second-tier club competition. Although they have had encouraging performances at home to the likes of Al-Zawraa and Al-Nassr, the all-important points column has been blank. “We are with zero points (after five matches), but except for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, we have been competitive in practically every game,” Manolo said.Goa will face a tough challenge for the final group-stage match. Borja Herrera (yellow cards in two separate games), David Timor (five-match ban) and Ayush Chhetri (red card) are all suspended; Javier Siverio has parted ways with the club by mutual consent to move to Cyprus, while captain Sandesh Jhingan and Ronnie Wilson are yet to recover from injuries.Given the weak squad available with him, Manolo could use players like Harsh Patre, Prachit Gaonkar and Muhammad Nemil to get game time. However, the coach promised to be competitive. By way of context, the Super Cup final came to his mind when Goa finished extra time against East Bengal, with players like Abdul Rabih at right-back, Udanta Singh on the left and Pol Moreno and Nim Dorjee in the centre.“We will be competitive. This team has shown many times that it’s not about who is playing or not playing the game. The Super Cup finals were a good example, especially the last four. I am very, very satisfied with these people, I am proud of them. This team will fight,” Manolo said.Three points behind second-placed Al Zawraa, Istiqlol have a mathematical chance of qualification, provided the Iraqi team does what no other team in Group D has achieved so far – deny Al Nassr Club a win in their second group game being played simultaneously in Riyadh.The top two teams qualify for the knockout stage consisting of 16 teams. Istiklol have six points, and their matches against Al Zawra each ended with a win, with the Tajikistan team able to advance on goal difference if they score big against Goa in Fatorda.Goa will want to avoid that, and, as Manolo said, hopefully they will come away with something in their bag.Late kick off for FC GoaFC Goa’s ACL2 clash against Istiklol FC will kick off at 9.30pm on Wednesday as the final group-stage games are to be played simultaneously as per competition rules.The second group game between Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) and Al-Zawraa (Iraq) will be played in Riyadh.“India is two-and-a-half hours ahead of Saudi Arabia, where matches are played under lights. Due to this reason, the regular kickoff (7.15 pm) for continental matches was not possible in Goa,” an official said.The 9.30pm start, that too on Christmas Eve, may keep fans at home and see lower attendances at Fatorda. Goa’s previous ACL2 clash against Al-Nassr in October was attended by 14,389 fans, despite the Saudi Pro League team traveling without their captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
