Revealed: The secret behind FC Goa duo's speedy return from injury

The Gaurs' faithful will be delighted that the midfield pair of Hugo Boumous and Brandon Fernandes are in line to start against the Marina Machans in the second leg.

Hugo Boumous and Brandon Fernandes are making a quick comeback - and it’s all down to the medical staff of FC Goa! 

Lately, FC Goa’s fortunes have been as mixed as they could be. After becoming the first team from the country to qualify for the AFC Champions League, they look on the edge of an ouster from the semi-finals at the hands of Chennaiyin FC, who have continued their rampaging form from the league stage. Losing 4-1 to the Marina Machans in the first leg, the Gaurs will now look to field a full-strength side in the second, to be played on 7th March at the Fatorda Stadium. 

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And for that, Hugo Boumous and Brandon Fernandes need to make a comeback. The pair, Goa’s creators-in-chief, was out with injury in the first leg of the tie. They were sorely missed on the pitch and the score showed. Goa lacked ideas and lost the game in midfield, as Anirudh Thapa and Co. made the most of the space. 

Khel Now got into an exclusive conversation with Dr. Nelson Pinto, head of the medical team at the club and he revealed several interesting facts about the players and the setup. 

“Players are more scared in their minds when they know they are susceptible to injuries,” Pinto started, referring to Brandon. “Right from his young days, after his return from a stint in South Africa, his career got shortened due to what he calls back issues. There were some stress fractures during that period as well. He played with a hamstring and several other issues at Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City FC. He has gone through a lot and there’s a bit of a psychological barrier there.”

“The first year I came in (2017), he had a lot of hamstring and ankle problems. The last two years, these have been relatively lesser in number. His performances, too, have picked up and he has also become a key member of the national team. In training, I need to modify his workload a lot. If I see tiredness or soreness, I modify the regime with the conditioning coach. We take care of him like a small baby," he smiles. "Special talents deserve a little extra care."

Moving on to the most creative player in the league, we discussed Hugo Boumous in detail as well. Pinto reminded us of an incident. “Boumous had a shoulder dislocation in the 18th minute against NorthEast United. He played the entire game in severe pain but not once did he want to be substituted. He’s a warrior and is very brave. His attitude is impeccable and that helps his recovery a lot.”

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Boumous has been the best footballer in the Indian Super League this season. In 14 games, he has scored 11 times and made 10 assists. His stats speak for themselves and the French-Moroccan midfielder will have a massive role to play if FC Goa have to reach consecutive finals. They lost 1-0 to Bengaluru FC in the finals last year and will hope to do one better this term. 

We moved on from Boumous and Brandon to other FC Goa players. On being quizzed, Nelson also told us who were physically the best in the team. “Mourtada Fall and Ahmed Jahouh, undoubtedly. They can play in a lot of pain and come back, rest and get ready again. They are absolute beasts and are fearless on the pitch.”

Picking the best from the Indian contingent, the doctor with a diploma in FIFA Football Medicine named his full-backs. “Seriton Fernandes and Mandar Rao Dessai. "They take good care of themselves. Mandar has always been very systematic and Seriton has worked a lot in the last two years on how he eats and works. The maturity is visible.”

Apart from Goa, Pinto agreed that Sunil Chhetri is one of the top professionals in the country and tagged Anirudh Thapa alongside him. “Sunil Chhetri, certainly. He’s had an injury recently, but still, he’s one of the best out there. I’ve seen Thapa for the last three years and he hardly misses a game due to injury. I think that boy has a great future. Vinit Rai, too, is very good physically.”

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Is there risk involved in forcing quick comebacks? “No,” asserts Pinto. “Usually, the risk is zero, provided the players take good care of themselves and post-match, you do certain exercises as advised. My team and I ensure that the risk involved is zero or minimal. There should be a balance between trying to make sure a player comes back soon for the betterment of everyone, while making sure he is risk-free.”

He continued, “All the basic criteria are checked and only then, a go-ahead is given. Over the last three years, we’ve developed a bond and if we tell a player he’s ready, they trust us and step onto the pitch. So, it’s a big responsibility on our shoulders as well.”

If Chennaiyin witness a flip in fortunes at Fatorda, part of it will be down to the proactive preparedness and smart work from Dr. Pinto and his team. He and his team have worked very hard to maintain the high standards of fitness for all players and it is clearly visible in the performances. With the full side expected to start, the semi-final between FC Goa and Chennaiyin is far from over.