Abu Dhabi: Brazilian legend Zico and his team Goa FC will be arriving in Dubai on September 2 for a preparatory camp ahead of the second edition of the Indian Super League (ISL), starting on October 10.
The team is scheduled to play three friendlies against Dubai-based clubs: Emirates, Al Shabab and Al Jazira on September 11, 15 and 19, respectively. Another ISL club, Mumbai City FC, have also decided to make UAE the home for their training camp notwithstanding the extremely hot and humid weather here at this time of the year. The team, co-owned by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and trained by coach-cum-marquee player Nicolas Anelka, is expected to reach Dubai on Tuesday.
Mumbai City, who will be here for a three-week camp, are banking heavily on the 36-yr-old former French international who has played for top European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City to give their campaign a boost. Anelka, who has not got the time yet to mix with the team, is expected to join them straight in Dubai. The team also has Indian captain Sunil Chhetri, who missed out on the inaugural season and will be looking to make an instant impact.
Zico, currently in a desperate bid to file nomination for the Fifa presidency in a race to succeed Sepp Blatter, has enough on his plate than just the Goa FC campaign. He is currently back home for a meeting with the Brazilian federation scheduled on August 31 - ostensibly to garner their vote as any potential candidate has to guarantee a backing of minimum five member countries of Fifa.
Uefa president Michel Platini looks a firm favourite to succeed tainted Sepp Blatter, while former Fifa vice-president Chung Mong-joon has also expressed his willingness to vie for football’s top job. Others who are eyeing the post are Liberian FA chairman Musa Bility, South African Tokyo Sexwale and former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder David Nakhid.
The biggest challenge Zico faces is to garner the backing of four member nations on his own. His federation though is willing to support, but will do so only if Zico manages to convince them that he has the backing of the remaining four.
According to informed sources, a telling blow to Zico’s aspirations could be Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s announcement of their full support for Platini. The Brazilian, however, will be hoping to get support from countries where he has had coaching stints before – Japan, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Iraq and now India.
India’s support, however, may be ruled out considering that Praful Patel, President of All India Football Federation (AIFF), is also the vice president of the AFC and is expected to toe the continental body’s decision.
