MARGAO
Michel Castanha said she is excited to be part of the Indian national women's football team camp in Jamshedpur where the team is preparing for the AFC Women's Cup 2022, the flagship continental championship.
“I am very excited to be among the India team probables. Whenever there is an opportunity to play for India, I have given my best every time I got on to the pitch. I look forward to donning India colours with pride again,” Castanha told 'The Goan' from Jamshedpur.
The 28-year-old defender is one of two Goans called up for the camp by head coach Thomas Dennerby – forward Karishma Shirvoikar being the other player from the State among the 30 probables.
“With all that is happening with the pandemic, I was able to play some matches. I also engaged in some adventure sports and now we are trying to do our best to get ourselves in the best shape for the championship,” Castanha said.
Castanha has spent two seasons with Gokulam Kerala FC in the Indian Women League and played a role in the club's title triumph in 2020 after a runners-up finish in 2019.
The Curtorim-born footballer has served the national women's team well, representing the country in the 2018 Asian Women's Cup Qualifiers in North Korea and Women's Cup Turkey (2019). She was a key member of the Indian squad that won the SAFF Women's Championship in 2019 and the 13th South Asian Games 2019. She also donned the national colours in Cotif Cup in 2019 in Spain, the Olympics qualifiers and international friendly matches against Hong Kong, Indonesia and Vietnam. Castanha, who began her career at Curtorim Gymkhana, also played in the Hero Cup in 2019.
In her club career, she has played for Salgaocar FC, Fr Agnel Vashi Maharashtra, Bodylines Sports Club, Pune City FC, Panjim Footballers and Churchill Brothers.
