CHARLES D’SOUZA
MARGAO
Goa head coach Remmy Colaco feels the State girls’ football team has the potential to emerge on top in the Junior Girls’ National Football Championship to be held in Goa from August 20 to August 31.
“We have a good team balance with experience and youth. Our preparations have been earnest and the team certainly has the calibre to finish on top provided we play to our potential. The team is in good shape and has a positive vibe about it. We will definitely give our best,”
Colaco said.
“I am proud to coach the State team and hopefully we will win the national title. Only the top team from each of the eight groups will progress to the quarter-finals. Thus, our first aim is to qualify for the quarter-finals. I am very confident of a good performance from the girls, but it’s still a big challenge,” the former Salgaocar midfielder said.
Goa have been clubbed with Jharkhand and Chandigarh in Group F. Reflecting on the championship, the Goa coach said the team will take “one match at a time”. Goa will begin their campaign against Jharkhand on August 21 and next face Chandigarh on August 24.
“We have been drawn with these teams in the championship. We respect our opponents and we will take one match at a tine,” he stated. “We have paid a lot of attention to the positioning of forwards in the striking zone. The chief coach has not just drawn out the position chart for the strikers and explained in theory, but has also walked them through the positioning to ensure they don’t repeat any mistakes made in the past,” Colaco said.
The buzz after the Goan team defeated GFDC Under-14 team, Rosary Higher Secondary School, and narrowly lost to Mae de Pobres High School, Nuvem (boys team) will boost the morale of the team. Meanwhile, Colaco has appealed to parents and football fans in the State to turn up in big numbers to watch the tournament action at SAG artificial turf, Fatorda. “We want football fans to support the tournament and every one should root for the Goan lasses to win the championship,” said Colaco.
Goa will rely on heavily internationals, goalkeeper Ashika Gadekar, Karisma Shirvoikar, Somaya Mukundan and Sushmita Jhadhav. The team is undergoing training sessions at Fatorda. Colaco is assisted by Savio Vaz.
