MARGAO
Goa will eye a winning start when they take on Mizoram in their opening Group B match of 72nd National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at Kolkata on Tuesday.
Goa trained on Monday morning and head coach Armando Colaco expressed confidence of doing well in the national championship. “The mood in the team is upbeat. We have clocked some good sessions on the pitch; now we are looking forward to a good start in the tournament,” Colaco said.
However, the former India coach is not ready to take any risks in their first game of the championship and he made it clear that they will be cautious, but said “we are looking for a good start on Monday”.
Colaco helped Dempo win five national league titles but he is looking for a fresh start and a bigger challenge. He will be under pressure as expectations are high. Colaco is well aware of that.
“It is a big challenge. We need positive start. We are going to play against a good team. It won’t be an easy match against Mizoram,” Colaco said. “I am a professional and looking forward to do well against them.”
Bengal have won the Santosh Trophy 32 times. Punjab come next having won the tournament eight times, followed by Kerala (5), Goa (5), Services (5), Karnataka (4) and Maharashtra (4).
Bengal and Goa were joint winners in 1982, the only time when the trophy was shared. Bengal won the tournament five consecutive times or more twice. First from 1975 to 1979 and then from 1993 to 1998. They beat Goa last year in the final to claim their
32nd title.
