FC Goa drop ISL top-scorer Igor Angulo, Alberto Noguera for AFC Champions League
The Gaurs have named a 28-member squad for their maiden campaign in the continental competition. ISL Golden Boot winner Igor Angulo has been excluded.
India’s FC Goa will be without two of their key players Igor Angulo and Alberto Noguera for their maiden AFC Champions League campaign that begins next week.
Naming his 28-men squad for the competition, FC Goa head coach Juan Ferrando has included Ivan Gonzalez, James Donachie, Jorge Ortiz and captain Edu Bedia in the side for the competition.
The Australian James Donachie is an automatic choice given AFC’s regulation of having at least one of the four foreign players to be from a member nation. Spaniards Igor Angulo and Alberto Noguera didn’t make the cut despite stellar performances in the Indian Super League that concluded last month.
While Igor Angulo wrapped up his debut season in India with the ISL Golden Boot title, Alberto Noguera ended with the most number of assists in the tournament.
“In FC Goa, our philosophy is the same but it's necessary to change some points in both defence and attack,” head coach Juan Ferrando explained.
“The big problem is we play six games in 20 days and it’s a difficult decision (to select four foreign players). It’s a difficult moment in my career. But it's the life of football,” Ferrando added.
Among the Indians, midfield mainstay Brandon Fernandes returns to the side after an injury lay-off while Romeo Fernandes, who was on trial with the team, has been included.
FC Goa are placed in Group E of the competition alongside last season’s runners-up Persepolis FC of Iran, Qatari heavyweights Al Rayyan and UAE’s Al-Wahda.
The Group E encounters of the AFC Champions League will be played in Goa with the local team kicking off their campaign against Al Rayyan on April 14.
FC Goa squad for AFC Champions League
Goalkeepers: Mohammad Nawaz, Naveen Kumar, Shubham Dhas, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem
Defenders: Sanson Pereira, Seriton Fernandes, Leander D'Cunha, Iván González (Spain), Mohamed Ali, James Donachie (Australia), Aibanbha Dohling, Saviour Gama, Adil Khan
Midfielders: Edu Bedia (Spain), Glan Martins, Princeton Rebello, Brandon Fernandes, Phrangki Buam, Redeem Tlang, Makan Winkle Chothe, Alexander Romario Jesuraj, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Romeo Fernandes
Forwards: Jorge Ortiz (Spain), Devendra Murgaonkar, Ishan Pandita