Team Herald
PANJIM: New entrants A A de Moira will lock horns with Holy Cross Sports Club in the inaugural match on the GFA Geno 1st Division league, in association with Johncy Restaurants, at Duler Stadium, on Friday,
Meanwhile, another new entrant Youth Club of Manora will clash with United Club of Telaulim at Artificial Turf ground, Fatorda.
With the extension of the league, the new and restructured league will surely enthral the Goan fans at large.
Manora, coached by Jimmy Costa have some prominent players in their team. Former Salgaocar goalkeeper Agnelo Noronha is one of the seasoned and most experience player in the league, who will play for this side. Agnelo will be supported by Valito Miranda and Benson Fernandes at the back. With this defence, the team has one of the strongest defence lines in the league, at least on the paper.
Telaulim will have to wary of Manora’s Albino Pereira, who was the top goal scorer in the GFA Second Division League for Manora in 2016-17 seasons. Albino was also instrumental in getting his side promoted into the 1st Division League.
Telaulim also boasts of having one of the best keepers –Macklas Moraes, a former Salgaocar FC and Goa Santosh Trophy player –who will feature for them in this season. Andrew Colaco, Donald Rocha, Mabel Miranda are the other players, one will have to look out for in this season. Coached by Covan Lawrence, Telaulim will surely aim for a top four finish.
At the other end, The Moira side boasting of some old names amongst their rank will try to contain the strong Holy Cross team. Moira has National Futsal champion Sugitesh Mandrekar to guard their goal along with some prominent players like Craig Menezes and Akshay Dabholkar in their squad. Meanwhile, Holy Cross Arambol will continue to surprise their opponents as the side has fielded quite new names in their line-up. Peliston Rodrigues and Hemant Rodrigues are few of Holy Cross players who have earned their name with good play in the Goan leagues so far. Altogether 14 teams will battle it out in the Geno 1st Division League.
