PANAJI
Goa will have two representatives in the India U-17 women’s football squad for the upcoming SAFF U-17 Women’s Championship in Bhutan, with Pearl Fernandes and Valaina Jada Fernandes making the cut.
The tournament will be held in Thimphu from August 20 to 31.
India U-17 women’s head coach Joakim Alexandersson announced the 23-member squad on Sunday. Alexandersson, who recently guided the India U-20s to their first AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualification in two decades, will now lead the U-17s as they prepare for the regional championship in the build-up to the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in October in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Pearl, who plays for Sesa Football Academy and earlier represented Compassion FC, has already featured for India at the SAFF U-16 Championship.
Meanwhile, Valaina is a rising talent, who played for Warriors FC and had a 35-day stint in Spain, training with clubs RCD Espanyol and Atletic Masnou.
