Goa are determined to become national champions again, and therefore they have put together a young and talented squad, which is confident of putting up a great performance, worthy of their states rich footballing history.

Ashok Ganapathy, Hub CEO – Mumbai, Maharashtra, Goa & Gujarat, Bharti Airtel said, “Airtel has associated with Goa Football Association with the aim to nurture young talent and enable them to hone their skills. Airtel has always promoted football in India and are proud to sponsor a promising team which has the potential to make a mark nationally. This is a part of Airtel’s constant endeavour to provide platform for promising talent to showcase their skills and make a mark for themselves.”

Ajit Ravindran, Vice President, Procam International, the promoters of the Airtel Goa Professional Football League, also expressed hope that the young Goa team would return victorious from the campaign in the Santosh Trophy. “Procam International has had a long and fruitful association with football in Goa, which has been possible due to the support from the Goa Football Association and the long term vision of sponsors like Airtel. Procam International will continue to endeavor in its journey to bring innovations to Goa football, involve the maximum number of clubs and villages and promote football at the grassroots level.”

Shrinivas Dempo, Goa Football Association president, expressed confidence that the Goa team will perform well in the Santosh Trophy. He added that Goa had to field a young team consisting of upcoming players. This was a great opportunity for these players to show their mettle. He thanked Airtel and Procam International for their continued support towards Goan football.

Talking about the team, Coach Levino Anthony Pereira said, “The team is shaping up well and I have confidence in my boys and assure the football loving people of Goa that we will get good results. The icing on the cake will be when we come home with the Trophy after a gap of five years. All players are working hard and determined to get into the final playing XI.”

The Santosh Trophy 2014 will see the competition divided into five zones, namely South, North, North-East, East and West Zones. The Airtel Goa team will play in the West Zone qualifiers set to begin at Duler Stadium, Mapusa from January 30, in order to qualify for the final phase of the event at Siliguri.Besides Goa the West Zone Group B consists of Rajasthan and Daman&Diu, while Group A will see Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in action.

Goa will play their first match against Daman&Diu on January 30, 2014 at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa.

GOA

GoalkeepersReagan Juliao (Laxmi Prasad SC), Agnelo Gomes (ONGC)

DefendersPrajot Naik (Laxmi Prasad SC), Mario Mascarenhas (CFC), Meldon Silva (Wilred Leisure SC), Neville Miranda (CFC), Stanley D’Silva (Laxmi Prasad SC), Ponif Vaz (Sesa Football Academy), Lenston Alfonso (Sesa Football Academy), Sachin Gawas (ONGC)

MidfieldersPacy Perryson Rebello (Sesa Football Academy), Guirish Naik (Sesa Football Academy), Joel Sequeira (ONGC), Nicholas Fernandes (Sesa Football Academy), Brandon Fernandes (African Soccer Development, Cape Town), Steven Fernandes (Laxmi Prasad SC, Captain)

ForwardsAgnelo Colaco (Sesa Football Academy), Lavino Fernandes (ONGC), Umesh Harijan (Sesa Football Academy), Alvito Miranda (Laxmi Prasad SC)

OfficialsLevino Anthony Pereira (Coach), Vishwas Gaonkar (Technical Director), Sebastiao A. Noronha (Goalkeeper Coach), Welvin Menezes (Manager), Danny Pereira (Physiotherapist), Lavino Rebello (Chef-de-Mission)

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