ISL: Mandar Rao Dessai's football journey with FC Goa and India

Goa has been known to produce some of the top footballers who have gone onto play for the Indian national side. From the likes of Bruno Coutinho, Mahesh Gawli, Climax Lawrence, Alvito D'Cunha made a name for themselves on the football field. Mandar Rao Desai is yet another name to have emerged from the land of beaches. The FC Goa left-back has gone onto achieve his dream of donning the Indian jersey when he was called up by current coach Igor Stimac.

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Mandar Rao Desai's Dempo days 

Having joined Dempo as a teenager, he quickly came up with the ranks and was called up to the first team by coach Armando Colaco. With some high profile Indian players already in the team starting XI, it was difficult for him to break into the first team, but the Goan native never backed down and continued to do well as a winger. 

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Mandar Rao Desai's ISL career and emergence as left-back

Having been part of the FC Goa side in the Indian Super League (ISL) since its inception, Mandar continued to play as a winger and it was last season that  FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera told him to play as a left-back. 

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While speaking to Indian media, Mandar revealed that during the pre-season in Spain last year, coach (Sergio) Lobera told him that he could do well in that position and asked him if he was comfortable playing in that position. The Goan native continued to do well in that position and was soon handed his national team debut during the Hero Intercontinental Cup 2019 match against Tajikistan. It was a dream come true for a player, who had always been at the doorstep of the national team for years but never quite managed to take the first step in.

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ISL: So near and yet so far for FC Goa 

Mandar's luck with FC Goa for the ISL title has been the case of so near and yet so far. Having reached two finals and two semi-finals in the first five editions, the team has failed to lay their hands on the trophy.  With some international experience behind him, Mandar now has a chance to help FC Goa long-time ambition of winning the ISL trophy.

ISL: FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC

Most of their key players of last season retained for this year, FC Goa will begin their Indian Super League campaign against former champions Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on Wednesday.