FC Goa are in the hunt for a new striker after Victor Simoes was ruled out for the rest of the 2015 Indian Super League campaign.
Injuries have ravaged across the eight Indian Super League teams, with FC Goa the latest of them to search for a replacement for the injured Victor Simoes. Indian Newspaper Times of India reports that the FC Goa officials have identified former Brazil junior international Rafael Coelho Luiz as the replacement for the 34 year old Victor.
The Indian Super League (ISL) organisers have allowed teams to replace injured players from their squad and FC Goa look to avail the same opportunity after Victor was ruled out for the season. Goa though are yet to receive the green signal from the organisers.
The reports also adds that FC Goa waited for Victor to recover from his injury before submitting a copy of the medical reports to ISL organizers. The medical reports would be cross checked by doctors recruited by the organisers before an approval is granted.
Despite a pending approval, FC Goa and Victor have come to an agreement to terminate his contract with FC Goa chief coach Zico confirming that Victor failed to recover from his injury and is likely to be replaced.
.
“We can confirm that Victor will not be fit till the second phase of the tournament. We are working hard to find a replacement. The transfer window has already closed and because of that we cannot get the players we want.
“We have about five or six players who we are looking at but the rules are proving to be a hindrance. At this moment, we cannot afford to make mistakes and have to sign the right player. He has to be a player who can come and play for us straightway. There is no time for pre-season.a
The report suggests that Roger Rodrigues da Silva, who plays for Esporte Clube Bahia, was the first choice to replace Victor but fell afoul of rules, as Roger had represented his club in first team fixtures after the transfer window closed.
The Gaurs after their failure to sign Roger, have turned their attention towards Rafael, who represented the Brazilian under-18 national team in 2006, as the man to step in place of Victor. Rafael represented Figueirense and Vasco in Brazil before moving to Asia to ply his trade in Chinese Super League for Guangzhou R&F for two years.
Image Courtesy: FC Goa Media