CLINTON D’SOUZA
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PANJIM: When Rahul KP managed to get his shot past Hyderabad FC keeper in the 68th minute, it looked like Laxmikant Kattimani would have another disastrous final at Fatorda. Seven years earlier, he was blamed for the faults which weren’t solely his. But the custodian stepped up in style on the night, stopping three penalties and winning in style for Hyderabad FC their first ISL crown.
“It was the best moment to win a trophy at Fatorda. The first goal we conceded was my error, but it was Sahil Tavora’s strike which gave me a lot of confidence to play extra time. We will never forget that strike. I was motivated and was high in confidence. I knew for that fact that if we went to penalties, I had to save and I was calm,” stated Laxmikant Kattimani while speaking to Herald TV.
Post shootout, Kattimani was instantly treated from ‘zero to hero’ on social media and the TV commentators too mentioned the same numerous times. Local dailies stated the custodian punched away the ghost of the past, but for Kattimani it was never a point to prove. It was his night, his moment and his game to remember for life. It was just written in his destiny to be the saviour of this team.
“I didn’t have to prove anything. In the 2015 final any goalkeeper in my position would know that it wasn’t my error,” he stated.
“It was because our player fell on me and my jump fell short and that nobody knows. The only thing people know is that the ball went in the goal and for them it was the keeper’s mistake” he stated and it wasn’t just his opinion, but the entire local fans did accuse the custodian of slipping in the crucial goal.
Though for Kattimani, he never thought he should explain to people about the episode, but it was difficult for the custodian to overcome the fateful night where Goa lost the final against Chennaiyin FC. He surely knows, that was the closest Goa came to winning the title.
“It was difficult for me to overcome it because I lost a final at Fatorda which we were in a good position to win. It was a nightmare for a month. I gained my confidence and then I had a good second division I-League, thereon I improved my game, gained my confidence and finally I got what I wanted at Fatorda,” he explained.
While Kattimani saved the day for Hyderabad FC, everyone knows it was Sahil Tavora who smashed in a volley at the death which actually gave some hopes for Hyderabad FC.
Sahil had scored such goals on numerous occasions during the training. But there was no better moment than final to replicate his training session goals.
“In training I scored many but never got a chance in the game, but that night I got one chance where I managed to put the ball in the top corner,” stated Sahil Tavora.
“It was final, and there is that pressure to make something happen. I wasn’t thinking about the pressure when I was on the pitch. Even if Katti (Kattimani) would score I would be equally happy as we didn’t want to lose the game,” explained Tavora.
“For the entire season, we had 300-500 penalties attempted with Sahil shooting them after every training session. The only day we didn’t train was before the final. I knew that if we were to go to the finals, we had to do the best. I was calm and that helped me to save three penalties,” stated Kattimani.
While the duo dazzled on the glittering night, another Goan lad Aaren D’Silva also featured in the game as a second half substitute. The youngster joined the Nizams in the summer of 2021 and after failing to get game time in the initial games, he went on the feature in maximum games in the later stages of the tournament.
“When I first arrived at Hyderabad FC, the coach was demanding. It was motivating to be around Ogbeche and we got to learn from the senior players. Initially I didn’t get time, but I got matches and timings. In the first season I didn’t expect this, but it was a good thing for me,” stated Aaren.
