Goa suffered an 8–2 defeat against Kerala in the final of the Khelo India Beach Football Competition held at Diu on Friday, as Kerala successfully defended the championship title it had won in the previous edition.
Despite a spirited effort, the Goan side was outplayed by the defending champions, who dominated the final to clinch the trophy once again.
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Speaking after the match, Goa coach Bruno Coutinho pointed to several challenges faced by his team during the tournament. He said the squad lacked professional players and adequate bench strength, which affected their overall performance.
“We did not have professional players and had to play with normal players, which meant we lacked bench strength. This year we were slightly better,” Coutinho said, adding that the team was also hampered by the lack of preparation. “It is a pity that we were not able to get even a single day of practice in Goa.”
Despite the loss, the Goan team showed improvement compared to previous performances, while Kerala’s victory reaffirmed their dominance in beach football at the national level.
