Team Herald
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MAPUSA: Guardian Angel SC made an impression in the Goan football circuit by earning their promotion from third division to GPL in least years. After spending seven years at the club, this year Coach Riston Colaco targets a ‘satisfactory standing’ in the league.
Guardian Angel SC has always given a tough fight to the top four teams, but have fumbled in matches least expected. That has been their story in the GPL which has seen them finish in the mid-table for most of the seasons.
Last season, the club stood in sixth position with 27 points before the GPL was abandoned due to COVID -19 pandemic.
Considering all the teams having entire new squads, the Club will look to have to better their league performance after having a balance squad with many youngsters joining the team.
Coach Riston Rodrigues who has been at the club for seven seasons, stated that they have a balanced team this season which is a mixture of youngsters and 7-8 senior players in the team. “We will be signing more players as the league progresses,” Rodrigues stated.
The club will miss the services of Yakubu Mohammad, Ashlon Oliveira, Precio D’souza and Jeet Gupta to other teams.
“We have lost many senior players but the signing we have made will surely not disappoint anyone. We have managed to sign Basanta Moirangthem (Sagolband United Imphal), Arif Pathan (Salgaocar FA), Denzil Fernandes (Vasco Sports Club), Wesley Paes, Maevan Dias and Jovial Dias (all (U-20) from FC Goa).
“We always have difficulty in retaining the same squad and so every season we have to build a new team. However, it’s the motto of the management of Guardian Angel to give a platform for the young Goans so that they can establish themselves as a professional footballer and get picked up by the elite clubs.” Riston explained.
“Due to COVID-19 pandemic, we have started our practice session the club had a delayed start to their training session which began in January.”
“It’s a bit difficult to make the players physically and mentally strong and to find the right combination at a short interval,” revealed Riston.
“Being a single leg this season there is no chances to commit mistakes if we want to have a satisfactory standing in the league, at the same time save our team from relegation, since every team will try and give in their best.”
Riston further said that he strongly banks on his goalkeeper Prateesh and the last line of defense which is being shouldered by William, Benzu, James, Versly and Denvil.
The Club also got good quality attacking players in Basanta Singh, Beneston Barretto and the two foreign recruits Musah Bamba and Isshak Nuhu who in the past have scored from difficult positions.
“It’s not easy to retain the same squad and sign new players, but to achieve it finances play an important role and this support we got from our Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and other sponsors and all credit goes to the club President Johnsy Fernandes,” he concluded.
