BY CHARLES D'SOUZA
MARGAO
Goa's head coach Alfred Fernandes is well aware of the dangers that lay in his team's path to winning the Santosh Trophy as they will face of some tough opponents like West Bengal, Punjab, Assam and Tamil Nadu in the 70th edition for the Senior National Football Championship in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
The Churchill Brothers coach and former Sesa Goa (now defunct) gaffer told The Goan Everyday before heading for Nagpur that the team will have a "tough time" in Nagpur. "The team will have a tough time for sure. But nothing is impossible," Fernandes said.
The Santosh Trophy was not long ago, India's most important tournament, and even though its significance may have diminished, the tournament still holds a pride of place in every Goan's heart. Pleased with his performance with Churchill Brothers in the Goa Pro League, the Goa Football Association chose Fernandes to lead the State side. Goa has a young squad with six players -- Rowilson Rodrigues, Francis Fernandes, Milagres Gonsalves, Peter Carvalho, Bevan D'Mello and Laxmikant Kattimani -- being the most experienced ones. The rule that no I-League players can take part in the tournament has meant Goa had to fall back on the players from Second Division I-League and the Goa Pro League clubs.
"It's a good talented squad. I believe in this team and they showed impressive performances annexing the West Zone title with an all-win record in the qualifying round. Nothing would be enough, except winning back the trophy," Fernandes said.
Meanwhile, former India and Goa midfielder Mauricio Afonso said: "It's (the Satosh Trophy) is still dear to us. We want the team to bring back the Santosh Trophy for Goa and Goan football."
Goa play their first match against Bengal on March 1, and take on Assam (March 3), Tamil Nadu (March 5) and Punjab (March 7) next. "You may not know from which quarter the hurdle will come. Reading the opponents is very difficult with the short period available to prepare for a tournament like this," Fernandes said. "I have full faith in my boys, who are eager to deliver the goods at first opportunity," the former Sesa Goa midfielder said.
