MARGAO
Dr Caitano Fernandes, president of the Goa Football Association (GFA), met with the Goa Santosh Trophy squad on Thursday at Santa Cruz Church.
The team, led by head coach Mateus Costa, is preparing to represent the State in the final round of the 78th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25.
The tournament will take place in Hyderabad, Telangana, from December 15 to 31, 2024. Goa is placed in Group B alongside Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Meghalaya.
During the meeting, Dr Fernandes extended his best wishes to the team, commending their dedication and passion. He emphasised the importance of sportsmanship throughout the competition and expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform well on the national stage.
"We are confident that Goa will fly high on the grand stage," he said. "On behalf of the entire Goa football family, I extend our best wishes to the team. Your hard work and efforts will surely bear fruit."
The team's captain, Joseph Clemente, spoke about the significance of captaining Goa in the Santosh Trophy. "As a player, we lost in the finals against Services (in the last edition). Now, as captain, my goal is to bring the championship home to Goa," Clemente said.
"For now, we are focused on qualifying for the quarterfinals. Our team has a strong fighting spirit, and I share a good bond with every member. The team respects each other, and we motivate one another on and off the field."
Former footballer Camilo Gonsalves also sent his best wishes to the Goa team ahead of their first match against Kerala on December 15.
As the team heads to Hyderabad, they carry the hopes and dreams of Goa's football fans. The final round of the Santosh Trophy is set to begin on Saturday, and the Goa squad is eager to complete the unfinished task of last season when they fell short in the final.
