"The boys are putting in their best, they are a highly motivated lot and I will do my level my best to make Goa and Goans proud. I have full faith in my boys who are eager to deliver in the West Zone qualification,"
Alfred Fernandes, Goa coach
BY CHARLES D'SOUZA
MARGAO
Santosh Trophy has eluded Goa for quite a while now. Come February 9, Goa will play hosts to West Zone qualification round for the national football championships and State coach Alfred Fernandes is determined to enure that Goa not only qualify but bring home the Cup.
"Our efforts are solely aimed at regaining the prestigious Santosh Trophy which is eluding us for quite some time now," Alfred told The Goan Everyday. "We are working hard and the players are determined to give their best so that Goa gets the much-deserved pride of Indian football back home," thundered Alfred.
"With no I-League players eligible to participate in the State teams as per AIFF regulations, the top talent on view has been selected with the Goa coach doing his best," remarked Anthony Pango senior most executive member of GFA when reminded that Goa had put up a dismal show in last year's Santosh Trophy.
In the previous edition, Goa failed to qualify for the semi-finals and Alfred is conscious of the fact that mistakes committed in the past are not repeated. "People's expectations are very high and regaining the symbol of supremacy is also on our minds. This year the result will be good and I am hopeful that the boys will deliver," asserted Pango. He also said that Goa could not lose sight of Santosh Trophy. "It is the most prestigious event and players need to be be reminded that it has great historical significance for Goa. We have won it in the past and there is no reason why we can't do it this year," added Pango.
Pleased with his performance, the Goa Football Association, reposed faith in coach Alfred Fernandes.
Alfred said his squad was a mixture of youth and experience with players from Dempo Sports Club who had played in the Western Conference Second Division I-League forming the core of the team. "The boys are putting in their best, they are a highly motivated lot and I will do my level my best to make Goa and Goans proud," stated Alfred. " I have full faith in my boys who are eager to deliver the goods in the West Zone qualification," he said.
Hosts Goa have been pooled alongside Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Daman and Diu.
