MARGAO
It’s a new start to the qualifying round for the Goa senior women's team who will play hosts for the preliminary round matches of the 27th Senior Women's National Football Championship and head coach Girija Devi Dessai feels the “expectations will be high” from the team.
The Final Round of the competition will have a total of 12 teams - six group winners, five best runners-up, and the Railways, who have been given a direct entry. The 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals.
Manipur are the record 21-time champions and have also won the previous three editions of the championship, most recently edging Railways on penalties in the 2021-22 final in Kerala. Goa have been clubbed in Group III alongside Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Tripura. The matches will be played at Rosary Ground, Navelim and Holy Trinity Ground, Benaulim.
"We are motivated as a unit. Doing well in the qualifying round is our main aim. The girls know the value and the importance of the qualifiers. We are all working to perform better,” she said. "Goa are always considered among the best in the country There are always expectations from us,” Girija said.
“That would be more this time since we are playing at home. It’s a great opportunity for the girls to play a competition under such conditions,” Dessai averred. She, however, said she is working on some positions. "I am badly in need of good players in certain positions but I have to work with the team given to me," said Dessai.
Goa's best performance in the national football championship is reaching the semifinals. They have made it to the last-four four times, in 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07.
