PANAJI
Addressing the media at the GFA Secretariat,here, Costa described the 20-member strong Goa squad as a mixture of youth and experience.
“We shall take it a match at a time, and we are not thinking of any opposition in particular,” Costa replied when asked how would his team be approaching a home tournament. On the team composition, Costa stated: “We have a very good team. Though we will be missing two key players in Fulganco Cardozo, Richard Costa (both on duty with Churchill Brothers in the ongoing I-League) who did commendably well in the qualifiers (in Madhya Pradesh), in their place we have found suitable replacements in Nicolau Colaco and Cajetan Fernandes.”
Costa disclosed that the team will not have the services of Ponif Vaz as Glan Martins is a good alternative. “Our reserve goalkeeper at the qualifiers, Faiyaz Shaikh, who did not start in any game and got injured, is replaced by Bruno Colaco,” Costa revealed explaining the forced changes made in the squad. “Like in the qualifiers, Francisco Fernandes will lead the side,” he added. Incidentally, for the very first time in the history of the competition, three U-20 players would be in the starting XI at any given time of the match with two other of the age group on the reserves. “In the event of the third U-20 substituted player also being injured, the rule would be relaxed,” the coach disclosed.
The home team trained at GMC Bambolim over the last couple of days and will shift to Curtorim grounds today. Meanwhile, Goa’s opening opponent Meghalaya will practice at Chicalim grounds on the same day from 8 to 9 in the morning.
