WITH just three Goan teams in NFL ’07 — there were five in ’06 — the transfer scene isn’t really hot here this time. The major shuffling is because of the disbanding of Fransa-Pax and the race to sign the players left in the lurch. Other than that Dempo SC, Sporting Clube de Goa and Churchill Brothers have focused their energies on keeping the Kolkata poachers at bay in an effort to retain their key players. Some of the clubs have also off-loaded extra baggage from the previous season and have signed a few youngsters.Biggest Gainer: Dempo SCThey have snapped up Fransa captain Cerssan Antao along with his teammates Marcus Peixoto and Peter Carvalho. Signing Jerry Zirsanga from Mohun Bagan was a coup while retaining NFL’s top scorer Ranty Martins too is a major achievement. Mohun Bagan tried to woo Martins but a Rs 30 lakhs new contract, that makes him the highest paid footballer in Goa, made him stay back. Besides, Dempo haven’t renewed the contracts of six players—most of whom had no role to play last season due to injuries.Biggest Loser: Sporting Clube de GoaSporting suffered as Vincent Pires and Bibian Fernandes were picked up by East Bengal and Nigerian import Chidi Edeh moved to JCT. But with star striker Dudu Omagbemi staying back, things don’t seem to be very bad for the team that finished 4th in NFL last year. They also hope that their new signings Bello Rasaq (Fransa) and Ernest Jeremiah (Mukthijodha, Bangladesh) deliver along with three local recruits — Steven Fernandes, Raymond Marques and Anthony D’Souza.The big catch: Jerry Zirsanga (Dempo)The former TFA product, who hit headlines as an India Junior, is being seen as a smart signing. Though he isn’t a really big name but the medio can help Dempo improve from their last year’s 5th place finish.
