Mumbai ready for Royal test; Salgaocar take on Bengaluru FC

MARGAO: Royal Wahingdoh Football Club and Mumbai Football Club will face in the opening match Group A of the 36th Federation Cup at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday. The kick-off is at 7 p.m.
The teams will go all guns blazing to start their campaign on a winning.
Royal Wahindoh FC earned promotion in the elite I-League this season and coach Santosh Kashyap is optimistic his team can deliver against Mumbai FC.
“The morale of the players is high and I am confident that they will play to win and also we focussed to do a good job and achieve victory. We have worked hard really this week as we had arrived Goa on December 21 and It’s time to show good football,” said Kashyap. They will rely on Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Denzil Theobald to deliver the goods.
Kashyap’s counter part Khalid Jamil is beaming with confidence.
“The players worked hard and there is no room for error. Our opponents are a strong team and we have not seen their playing style as yet. I have confidence in my boys and looking forward for a good game,” stated Henry Picardo, manager of Mumbai FC.
I-League champions Bengaluru FC will take on Salgaocar FC, at Tilak Maidan, Vasco. The kick-off is at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, member clubs affiliated to the Goa Football Association (GFA) will get Federation Cup tickets at a whopping discount of 50 per cent if they take a minimum of 20 tickets and general public can avail a discount of 25% if they buy a minimum of 100 tickets.
This was decided by the GFA at the meeting of the Executive Committee presided over by the president Elvis Gomes, in Panjim, on Saturday.
“We want our clubs to reach out to their communities. Hence clubs are granted the facility of a discounted ticket. Federation Cup is an important tournament. All Indian and some foreign players who played in the ISL will also be seen in action in this tournament,” said Elvis.
The GFA also mulled over bringing affiliated member clubs under a licensing criteria wherein Youth Development and Community Development would be compulsory to maintain club affiliation.
“It is time that our 200-odd member clubs become active and a club licensing criteria is essential to link performance based clubs to government assistance through GFDC,” stated Elvis.
Reports on the recently conducted D licences Courses, Coca Cola Trophy, new referees Courses, observance of women soccer day on March 8, 2015 and concerns of under-17 FIFA venue inspection team were also discussed  during  the meeting.