Salgaocar Juniors had finished runners-up behind AIFF Academy in the Goa leg of the U-19 I-League last year and went on to finish third at the all India finals. Six of the players from the current squad were part of the last season's team and will form the core of the side
LISTON DOUBTFUL
Salgaocar striker Liston Colaco is a doubtful starter for the game with a swollen ankle but the rest of the squad is available for selection
MARGAO
Last year runners-up Salgaocar FC colts will take on Sports Authority of India (SAI) in the first match of the Goa Zonal leg of the U-18 I-League at Government School playground, Cuncolim on Saturday.
AIFF Academy, Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa are the other teams that will compete for a place in the final round to be held later in the year. The zonal leg will be played on a home and away basis with the top two teams qualifying for the all-India finals. The Goa leg is scheduled to end on December 20.
Salgaocar Juniors had finished runners-up behind AIFF Academy in the Goa leg of the U-19 I-League last year and went on to finish third at the all India finals. Six of the players from the current squad were part of the last season's team and will form the core of the side.
Additionally, a total of 13 players registered for the league are part of the squad currently competing in the GFA Taca Goa U-20 tournament where the Greens have won four and drawn one of their six matches played.
Striker Liston Colaco is a doubtful starter for the game with a swollen ankle but the rest of the squad is available for selection.
“We have been training hard since July and are confident of putting up a good show. We will look to take it one match at a time and our first and foremost objective will be to qualify for the final leg,” Salgaocar FC U-18 coach Anthony Pereira remarked after a light training session on the eve of the opener.
The U-18 I-League is the premier age-group football tournament of the country which has been structured keeping the AFC U-19 Championship in mind. The tournament is intended to lay the foundation stone of the India U-19 team, which would rub shoulders with the premier teams of Asia.
