MAPUSA: The Goa U-18 team is all set to leave a daunting mark at the B.C. Roy Junior National tournament in Punjab.
Goa has been placed in a competitive group comprising of SAI, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi from which only one team will qualify for the knock-out stages.
Goa has regularly been winning hearts through their creative style of play. However, dominance is something they are yet to achieve. With coach Norbert Gonsalves, who has already set his sights on the final, Goa is promising to be a dominant force at the nationals.
Norbert comes with 21 years of coaching experience, which includes management of youth teams of major
Indian clubs. He has also been a coach for an India U-19 camp and did the same for Goa’s National Games football team.
“I prefer working with youngsters. They are eager and full of energy,” Norbert explains why he loves working with youth teams.
With so much of experience and being an India international himself, Norbert understands the game better than many. More importantly, he understands the kind of competition that awaits at the national level.
“At national tournaments, teams come with a set game plan. However, we have various strategies, depending on the kind of team we play. There is always an alternate plan,” he reveals as he adds, “Goa plays very well at the nationals but due to lack of finishing sometimes we falter.”
Although Norbert had just over a week’s time with the boys at training, he is confident of a good show by his team.
“Due to examinations and non-availability of players who were with their respective clubs, we did not have much time together. The team has done well in the practice matches against senior teams,” says Norbert.
The team comprises of about 12 players from the prestigious Sesa Football Academy while the rest will be from top junior clubs like Sporting Clube de Goa, Salgaocar FC and Dempo SC.
While all the players are an asset for Norbert, he will have to rely on a few mature ones like Cyrus Noronha and Rowlin Almeida in the midfield and Dhiraj Chauhan in the defence.
The team will leave along with coach Norbert Gonsalves and manager Joao Rebello for Punjab on Wednesday and will play their first game on January 26.
