Arjuna awardee Bruno Coutinho has faced many challenges in his football career with the National and State teams as well as with his different clubs. He knows a thing or two about how to handle pressure situations. He has come out with flying colors in many tough situations as a player.
Come October 26 a different challenge awaits the former Indian striker as he puts on the coach’s hat at the National Games while guiding the state team in Beach Soccer in Colva.
Bruno is trying to bring out his best from a bunch of players who have been handpicked and given to him.
There are no former or present Goa Professional League players nor those who are on duty for I-League clubs or Indian Super League clubs, they are all players who have shown talent and hunger to excel and move to the next stage.
“We do not have players from the ISL or I-League and besides that we have players representing the State in football which is a different team, so we have a bunch of 12 players who have been practising with us from the start of the month,” said the former Salgaocar Sports Club striker.
“We have been practicing at Miramar beach and we will be shifting base on October 26 to south Goa,” he added.
The multi-discipline National Games which kicked-off with a few disciplines a few days back will have its opening ceremony at Nehru stadium on October 26 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi gracing the occasion.
Bruno knows that playing at home will have its advantages and disadvantages but he will not settle for nothing less than a gold medal in beach football.
“I want to give a gold medal to Goa in beach football and I will try my best and guide the boys to give their best on the silvery sands of Colva,” added Bruno, who hails from the coastal village of Calangute.
