Brazil legends Zico and Lucio train FC Goa at Dubai Sports City

Sport360 staff 18:40 09/09/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Lucio and Zico are training FC Goa ahead of the Indian Super League.

    Brazilian football legends Zico and Lucio are putting FC Goa through their paces at a Dubai Sports City pre-season training camp.

    – #360WIN: Games 15 tickets – the Middle East's biggest gaming event
    – QUIZ: Your chance to win an AED1000 voucher for Girders & Girders

    The duo have been drafed in by the Indian side to help with preparations ahead of October's Indian Super League campaign.

    Zico took up the manager’s role at FC Goa in 2013 having managed national sides such as Iraq and Japan and has also managed at some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs such as Fenerbache.

    “Dubai Sports City is outstanding, the perfect place for us as a team to train,” Zico said. “The conditions are perfect as long as we train in the morning and at night and the players feel very comfortable here.

    “The players are in really good condition and the weather is similar here in Dubai to Goa so it works really well for us,” Zico continued. “We have many new players with us this season so to get away as a team and bond before the season starts is really important.”

    Lucio, who enjoyed an 11-year spell playing for Brazil and captained the side to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa, joined FC Goa this summer and is looking forward to the new challenge.

    “For me this is a great move, I feel good and it’s a privilege to work with the team and help improve where we can,” Lucio said.

    Dubai Sports City is used to hosting top-flight sporting teams including English Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Swansea City as well as welcoming many international cricket sides to their facilities.

    FC Goa finished third in the Indian Super League last season and Zico was in no doubt about his reasoning for joining the club back in 2014.

    “I like to be challenged and at Goa I have found my latest challenge,” Zico explained. “It is a new league and I hope that my experience in football will help the league and FC Goa grow.

    The Indian Super League is a season that resembles the format of the IPL, kicking off in October with the finals being played at the end of December but the three-time Brazil World Cup player said he would like to see the league grow into a full season.

    “I like to oversee the development of my players and if I can help the league develop too that will be good. It will take time, at the moment it is only three months but to get to a point where it can be a full season will be a good achievement.”

    A player that can help push FC Goa to the championship title this season is new recruit, Lucio. The former Inter and Juventus man who was a rock at the heart of the Brazilian defense for 11 years has joined Goa this summer.

    Zico said of Lucio: “To have players of the highest standard is only going to help the team, I’m delighted to have Lucio with us.”

    Lucio played in three World Cups for Brazil and is delighted to still be playing and helping his team-mates at FC Goa.

    “For me it is a privilege to play at FC Goa and work with Zico,” Lucio said. “I am still loving football and to work with our Indian players is delightful, they are really committed.”

    FC Goa will be based at Dubai Sports City for 15 days taking advantage of all of their facilities including the indoor FIFA-licensed Football Dome as well as the outdoor pitches, fitness facilities and F&B offerings.

    Recommended