We will strive hard to win ISL: Dattaraj Salgaocar

Margao: FC Goa co-owner Dattaraj Salgaocar on Thursday said that the team is looking forward to win the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL).

FC Goa officially unveiled the team for the ISL season 2 at the Tilak Madian ground, Vasco to cheer from fans and supporters of the team.

Talking on the sidelines of the event, Salgaocar said, "Last year we could not get a good start and were lying at the bottom of the table until we rose to the challenge in the latter part of the league to reach semi-finals, where we lost to Champions Atletico de Kolkata on penalty.

"We had a good pre-season training in Dubai for 20 days, where we played four friendly matches against quality teams to remain unbeaten until we lost our last encounter against Hatta Club," he said.

Unlike last year coach Zico did not get to choose the team but this year we have given him free hands to choose players which comprises mostly from Brazil and local boys and we are expecting Brazilian flair this time around and hoping we win the trophy this time where the finals will be held in Goa, he added.

FC Goa skipper and marquee player and Brazilian World Cup winner Lucimar Ferreira da Silva (Lucio), too, was happy the way the pre-seson training went in Dubai.

"The team has gelled well as a team and we are looking forward to do well this time. I have seen that the team players are disciplined as a team, physically strong and most importantly they are eager and ready to learn more about football.

"I look forward to playing with the team for the season. We have three home matches at the beginning and our first match is against Delhi Dynamos FC and we are looking to win it that will give morale boost to the team to do better in the remaining matches," stated Lucio.

Zico, who did not arrive in Goa along with the team, expect a better performance this season.

"Last year I did not know the players, the foreigners and the technical staff. This year we will be better because I got to choose the Indian players and the foreigners also," the 62-year-old remarked.

FC Goa will host Delhi Dynamos FC on October 4 in their first fixture among the three opening home matches at the Fatorda Stadium, Margao.