On a dark cloudy day, 'White Pele' lands in Goa

Soccer-loving Goa just got to see Zico, one of the legends of the 'Beautiful Game', in flesh and blood Monday.

On a day when dark clouds threatened to pour all through morning to evening, the legendary Brazilian footballer and coach, who is being compared to the proverbial 'silver lining' to Indian football landed at the Dabolim international airport Monday afternoon.

Formally called Arthur Antunes Coimbra, Zico is the manager and chief coach of FC Goa, an Indian Super League (ISL) team promoted jointly by the football club's three club owners, Anirudh Dhoot, a director with Videocon, Srinivas Dempo chairman and managing director of the Dempo Group of Companies and Dattaraj Salogaocar, Managing director of V.M Salgaocar and Company. The latter two businessmen are from Goa.

Zico was accompanied by Roberto Mendes da Silva, a former Dempo player, also a native of Brazil. The legend, who arrived wearing a pair of denims, striped casual shirt and a coat, was welcomed by sports administrator Albert Colaco at the airport and after spending a few minutes at the VIP lounge was later taken to a five-star resort located 30 kms from the airport.

A modest crowd of around 70 persons, which included the Brazilian World Cupper's fans greeted Zico, also known as 'White Pele' at the airport.

As a football player Zico has featured in three World Cups and, as a coach, changed the sheer complexion of the game in Japan during his stint with the national team. Added to this, the fact that it's for the first time in Indian football that a coach of such pedigree has been picked to groom a football team has sent hopes soaring here.

In the FC Goa assignment, Zico will be assisted by Australian Arthur Papas, who is also the coach of Dempo FC, and conditional coach and analyst Hussein Skenderovic.

FC Goa's six international players namely Jan Seda, Miroslav Slepicka, Bruno Pinheiro, Miguel Herlein, Edgar Marcelino and Gregory Arnolin already arrived in Goa Sunday. The team is expected to begin training under Zico shortly, according to the organisers.