AIFF Academy, Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa are the other teams that will compete for a place in the final round to be held later in the year. The zonal leg will be played on a home and away basis with the top two teams qualifying for the all-India finals. The Goa leg is scheduled to end on December 20.
Salgaocar juniors had finished runners-up in the Goa leg behind AIFF Academy in the Goa leg of the U-19 I-League last year and went on to finish third at the All-India final. Six of the players from the current squad were part of the team last year and will form the core of the side.
Additionally, a total of 13 players registered for the league are part of the squad currently competing in the Taca Goa U-20 tournament where the Greens have won four and drawn one of the six matches played.
“We have been training hard since July and are confident of putting up a good show. We will look to take it one match at a time and our first and foremost objective will be to qualify for the final leg,” remarked the Salgaocar FC U-18 coach, Anthony Pereira after a light training session on the eve of the opener.
Striker Liston Colaco is a doubtful starter for tomorrow’s game with a swollen ankle but the rest of the squad is available for selection.
