PANAJI
FC Goa Developmental team will restart their Goa Pro League campaign with a match against Sporting Clube de Goa on Thursday. The coach of the Young Gaurs, Deggie Cardozo, is confident that his team has trained well to mount a challenge for the title of the pandemic-disrupted edition.
"So far, the team is doing really well as far as footballing aspects are concerned. We are in 3rd place on the points table. I feel players are giving their 100 percent in training and also taking care of themselves off the pitch," Cardozo to The Goan ahead of the match against the Flaming Oranje. "I'm also sure the players are aware of what it takes for them to be Goa Pro League champions. So my squad is ready to get going after a gap. Our upcoming challenge is playing against a strong opponent in Sporting Clube de Goa, it will be an exciting contest."
Speaking about the challenges faced by the team due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, the coach said, "After the league was halted, it was very difficult for the players mentally, as they never expected it to happen again. The previous season was very challenging for each one of us, especially the players. Each one of them, however, was doing the right things back home in terms of diet, hydration, sleep and also training - exactly as per our instructions.
"When we got the news from GFA about the league resuming, we were excited and happy. It has been four weeks since then and we've been training. The team is doing well in terms of fitness as well, right now." Cardozo said the team
Here at FC Goa one of our primary targets is to keep developing players for the first team. Additionally, we're aiming to win the Goa Pro League as well.
4. Any injury/fitness issues with the players in the squad?
Danstan, who was with the first team during the ISL, has a small injury but I feel he will be back as soon as possible. We have a big squad which includes players who have been promoted from the U-18 side, hence his injury should not have much effect on the squad for now.
5. Any player/s you are excited to see back in action?
Many of our players were given an exposure to experience training with the first team, like Hrithik (Tiwari), Danstan (Fernandes), Manushawn (Fernandes), Kunal (Kundaikar), Delton (Colaco), Brison (Fernandes), Nestor (Dias), etc. All of them have now experienced a different level of football altogether and that’s the ISL. I'm excited to see all these players get more game time to get better and stronger.
Speaking about the challenges faced by the team due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, the coach said, "After the league was halted, it was very difficult for the players mentally, as they never expected it to happen again. The previous season was very challenging for each one of us, especially the players. Each one of them, however, was doing the right things back home in terms of diet, hydration, sleep and also training - exactly as per our instructions.
"When we got the news from GFA about the league resuming, we were excited and happy. It has been four weeks since then and we've been training. The team is doing well in terms of fitness as well, right now." Cardozo said the team
Here at FC Goa one of our primary targets is to keep developing players for the first team. Additionally, we're aiming to win the Goa Pro League as well.
4. Any injury/fitness issues with the players in the squad?
Danstan, who was with the first team during the ISL, has a small injury but I feel he will be back as soon as possible. We have a big squad which includes players who have been promoted from the U-18 side, hence his injury should not have much effect on the squad for now.
5. Any player/s you are excited to see back in action?
Many of our players were given an exposure to experience training with the first team, like Hrithik (Tiwari), Danstan (Fernandes), Manushawn (Fernandes), Kunal (Kundaikar), Delton (Colaco), Brison (Fernandes), Nestor (Dias), etc. All of them have now experienced a different level of football altogether and that’s the ISL. I'm excited to see all these players get more game time to get better and stronger.
