MARGAO
Goa will take on defending champions Kerala in the opening match of final round qualifiers of the 76th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at the Capital Football Arena in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Friday.
The opening day of action will feature three games from Group A. After the Kerala-Goa clash, hosts Odisha will play Maharashtra while eight-time champions Punjab will battle it out against Karnataka. The Group B action begins on Saturday. The matches will be played at three venues -- Capital Football Arena, 7th Battalion Ground and the Kalinga Stadium. The top two teams from both groups will progress to the knockout rounds (semifinals and final) to be held in Saudi Arabia.
Goa coach Norberto Gonsalves will be looking to take every opportunity to qualify for the semifinal. "It is not just an opportunity for us to play but to qualify for the semifinal as well. That's the main aim for us," said Gonsalves. "The boys are quite confident and we will fight for every game here," he added.
Gonsalves believes that doing well in the first game will be of paramount importance to the Goans to carry the momentum forward. "Our first game is very important and we want to get off to a good start. We are playing a team like defending champion Kerala which is a very physically strong side," he said. "I think we do have a good chance whenever we play any tournament, and we can compete. If we have a positive mindset and maintain our focus, we could have a dream start."
Goa players have been together in a short one-week camp and the coach believes that the fitness of his players could benefit them in Odisha. "We had a short break after winning the qualifying round and trained in three venues after that. The boys have worked really hard and are confident of doing well," he said.
However, the former Salgaocar FC stopper-back will be banking upon the character his team has shown in the past. "Santosh Trophy is a very different tournament and the level here will be higher as we are playing some of the best teams in the country," said Gonsalves. "But the character that the boys have shown is incredible and the fact that they can come back from tricky situations bodes well for us."
He believes that all teams will start on an equal pedestal and that everybody is working hard to secure a place in the semifinals. When asked about the absence of Stendly Fernandes and Liston Cardozo in the squad due to injuries, Gonsalves said, "It's a big miss, not having Stendly and Liston in the squad. But I'm sure the boys will take this as an opportunity and play well as a team," Gonsalves said.
