FC Goa's Derrick Pereira to fill in for Lobera during Super Cup

Sergio Lobera has flown home to Spain on paternity leave and will miss the inaugural edition of the Super Cup.

Sergio Lobera coached FC Goa to the semifinals of the Indian Super League.

FC Goa, which reached the semifinals of the recently concluded Indian Super League, will miss the services of its coach Sergio Lobera for the inaugural edition of the Super Cup.

Lobera, who is on paternity leave, flew back to Spain on Tuesday and will miss the entirety of the knockout tournament. Derrick Pereira, the assistant manager, will be in charge during the Round-of-16 match against ATK on April 3.

The Spaniard Lobera was appointed as the head-coach in June last year. Under him, FC Goa had an impressive season where it scored a league high of 43 goals from 20 matches.

However, it suffered a 4-1 aggregate exit at the hands of eventual champion Chennaiyin FC, failing to score in the second leg in Chennai last week.

Pereria, a former Indian national team player, has managed some high-profile Indian clubs in Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and Churchill Brothers. His highest point in coaching came during his stint with Mahindra United with whom he won the National Football League in 2006. He also coached them to a Federation Cup and a Durand Cup.