Mohammad Nawaz: FC Goa goalkeeper
Mohammad Nawaz is an Indian professional footballer who plays for Indian Super League (ISL) team FC Goa as a goalkeeper. He signed for FC Goa in 2017 and he was placed in the reserve team which competes in the I-League 2nd Division. He played 8 matches for the Goa’s reserve team where he kept 3 clean sheets and conceded 9 goals.
Nawaz was promoted to the first-team of FC Goa ahead of the 2018-19 ISL season. He played 13 matches keeping 4 clean sheets and conceding 17 goals. He made 35 saves, claimed 47 catches and had a save percentage of 67.3%. He also played 4 matches in the 2019 Super Cup keeping 2 clean sheets. FC Goa finished as runners-up in the ISL and winners of the Super Cup. The 2019-20 ISL season was a very good campaign for FC Goa. They finished as regular season Champions meaning they will become the first Indian club to play in the group stages of the AFC Champions League in the 2021 edition of the tournament. Nawaz was a key player for the team that campaign. He played every minute of every game for the Gaurs keeping 5 clean sheets, saving 42 shots and catching 86 balls. Though his save percentage went down from 67.3% last season (18-19) to 59.2% in 19-20. He will be looking to impress new coach Juan Ferrando in the upcoming 2020-21 ISL season.
Nawaz adds youthful exuberance to an aging backline at FC Goa. He has been praised by many of his teammates including recently retired Carlos Pena. He quoted “He (Nawaz) has really matured into a complete goalkeeper. The way he plays at the back helps us to play with confidence upfront. He is almost never flustered and astute with his decision-making. That confidence at the back reverberates throughout the side – he is as important to our defence as to our attacks.” His height may be only 174 cm which is very short for a goalkeeper, but he compensates his lack of height with his agility and awareness of what is happening on the pitch. An India call-up and a cap may not be far away if he continues to develop for the Gaurs the way he has so far.
