BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
PANAJI
He may have not been part of a XI that was on field at the ISL 2018-19 final held at the Mumbai Football Arena on Sunday, but Goa’s very own footballer, Myron Mendes was savouring the victory of his adopted side Bengaluru FC that prevailed over his home team, FC Goa.
Speaking on how he felt turning out for the victorious Blues, the 22-year-old unassuming Sanvordem lad stated: “In football, FC Goa was always favoured. When I started watching ISL, I always supported Goa as it was my hometown club. But that said, you cannot be disloyal to the club that buys you. I am overwhelmed and very happy with the win in my first ISL season with the squad. It was a great season being part of Bengaluru FC.”
Mendes’ ISL debut may have not been memorable though when you look at the score-line as Bengaluru FC Head Coach, Carles Cuadrat preferred to field several of his reserve players in an inconsequential league engagement against Jamshedpur, and they lost heavily at 1-5. But the multi-positional footballer preferred to look at the debut coming off the bench with 14 minutes left, very positively. “It was life-changing (ISL debut). I was not even one percent nervous. I always wanted to be inside. I was not caring about the score-line but just wanted to play. Because it was a big step for me,” he said.
In the closing quarter of the game on field, he felt that being handed a debut itself were the best moments in the match for him. “You do not always get these opportunities,” he matter-of-factly stated. Giving an insight on the celebrations of lifting their (BFC) sixth trophy in as many years and their first ISL title conquest, Mendes gushed on the recent memory. “Oh my God, we were going crazy. I remember a year ago, on March 17 after losing the (ISL) final I know how they were crying and not able to get over the loss. After winning the Super Cup we were fine. Now that we won (ISL), it was out of the world. We always wanted it. We worked hard for it. The celebrations were crazy. I don’t think anyone wanted to sleep that day, but just wanted to enjoy. We had a couple of team parties, the management came together, where we partied until 4 am, we even danced in the bus. It was a great feeling,” Mendes fondly recounted.
Sharing the dressing room at BFC with experienced players is something Mendes will always cherish in his progression through football. “It was the best feeling. If you were at my place, you will always say good things about Erik Paartalu. He is the backbone of every player, motivating them, and youngsters like me. Other players like Khabra and Dimas Delgado were also motivating. Then there was Sandhu who was always joking and motivating. The dressing room scenes were always good,” he reflected.
In fact, Mendes may have made his ISL debut only this season against Jamshedpur FC as a late substitute, he had already been part of the senior team the previous season. “In my first season at BFC, I was with the ‘B’ team most of the times and the coach always wanted me to move up and move to the seniors. Though I was not registered in the ISL last season, I was part of the team that played the AFC Cup,” the versatile footballer revealed. Talking of his AFC experience, he said, “When I played my first game against a Bhutan club side, I was very nervous. AFC is at an all Asia level and coming from a ‘B’ team and directly playing for the (senior)side was special. The coach, Albert Roca always trusted me and I never disappointed him. We eventually won the game at 3-0. I think I did well as everyone came and complimented me.”
“On ISL debut, I played as centre back as a player got a red card and another got injured. The coach had a plan of playing me as centre mid, but that was to change,” the very adaptable footballer disclosed.Taking pride of his positional adaptability, Mendes further said,” To be honest, I am a player who can play at every position. I first practiced as a left back, then centre-back, right back to a midfielder. I think the coach trusts me that is why he plays me anywhere. He wants to try me at different positions so that he can give me a chance. Not every player can play in different positions.”
Mendes nurtured a football career dream aged 9 or 10 playing for Salcete FC U-14 as a centre back. For his school, Guardian Angel High School, Curchorem he continued playing at the same position. “It was a tough decision for the school coach to play me as a centre back as I was very young and I was up against big guys. It was thus a difficult position for me to hit the ball long and play,” he reminiscised. From thereon, he moved on to represent Salgaocar U-12s as a midfielder. He recalls the coach there found his creativity as a midfielder was more ideal a position for him to be than a centre-back. And thus aged 11, he became a midfielder from a defender. Shortly after, he received a call-up from Goa Football Association and turned out for the U-12 side. Ever since, the precocious talent’s career has been on an upward curve. In recent years, before switching loyalty to BFC, Mendes was part of Pune FC and FC Bardez.
If he desires to turn out for FC Goa the next season, the Goan lad keeps his options open. “I am a person who stays loyal to the club which wants me. If Bengaluru wants me to continue, I will sign with them as I want to be with the champions and not let my club down. But there is always a soft corner for FC Goa. Since ISL started, I’ve always supported FC Goa till BFC came in. So I cannot say I will leave BFC and go to FC Goa. But I will sign with any of these two clubs,” divulged Mendes whose contract with BFC ends this season. But one thing is certain if he chooses to stay put with ‘The Blues’ and scores a goal against FC Goa, he will not celebrate as the word given to his mum is what he has to keep.
