Brazilian football legend and FC Goa's marquee coach Zico arrived in Goa last week to a lacklustre welcome.
However, fans of the Indian Super League's (ISL) Goa club have now made plans to ensure that when former Arsenal star Robert Pires, who is FC Goa's marquee player, arrives at the Dabolim International Airport Tuesday night, the welcome befits the French international's stature.
"We feel bad that no one was there to welcome Zico. We are planning to meet at 9 p.m. and organise ourselves with banners, jerseys and head gear to cheer Pires when he arrives," said Karsten Miranda, an administrator of Arsenal FC Fan Club (Goa), a popular Facebook group for fans of the top flight Premier League team.
Miranda's group has around 1,150 members and is buzzing with the arrival of Pires, an Arsenal legend who won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euro for France.
Postings on the group's timeline shows the excitement that Pires's arrival has caused.
"It's a matter of pride for us that Pires is in Goa and will play for FC Goa," Miranda told IANS.
Zico's arrival in Goa was relatively mute compared to the stature of the three-time Brazilian World Cupper.
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