MARGAO
Goa will face Manipur Hockey in their opening match of Group B at the 14th Hockey India Junior Men National Championship, set to begin on September 9 at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar, Punjab.
This match will mark the debut of Riyaz Kambli as the head coach of the Goa Hockey team, following his successful completion of the NIS Exam. Kambli expressed confidence in his squad's readiness and determination to qualify, noting, “All the positive indications are there. Players are ready and confident.”
However, Kambli acknowledged the challenges faced during preparations. “We are on the right track but not in an ideal situation,” he admitted. “Taking all our challenges into account, we didn’t have as much preparation time as we would have liked.” Despite these constraints, Kambli praised the training camp held at Peddem Artificial Turf, which played a crucial role in assessing player readiness and implementing tactical adjustments. “There are slight changes in tactics, but things are moving in the right direction,” he added.
The team regrouped last weekend, and Kambli finalized the lineup based on the recent camp's evaluations. The coach's main focus is on the "maximum preparation of the team," and he highlighted the inclusion of four experienced players who have participated in previous Nationals.
Goa's Pool G also includes Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Manipur, and Hockey Himachal Pradesh. Kambli, who also holds a hockey umpire badge, noted that observing the league over recent weeks has been instrumental in selecting the most prepared players. “This is the critical stage for qualifying, and the players chosen are the best available at this point,” Kambli concluded.
