Hosts Maharashtra are bubbling with confidence ahead of their title clash with defending champions Services in the 70th National Football Championship (final round) for the Santosh Trophy, conducted by WIFA under the auspices of AIFF, and hosted by NDFA and to be played at the SEC Railway ground, Nagpur, on Sunday afternoon.
Maharashtra coach Augusto D’Silva
The Maharashtra outfit is keen to break Services’ stronghold in this tournament as this is their fourth appearance in the final in the last five years. Besides winning the title last year (2015), Services had also claimed the top honours in 2012 and 2013.
In contrast, Maharashtra will be playing in the summit round after 11 years. They had lost to Goa 1-3 (full time 1-1) in the final in 2005-2006, in Kochi, Kerala. The last time Maharashtra won the Santosh Trophy was when they defeated host Kerala 1-0 in 1999-2001 finals in Thrissur, Kerala.
Maharashtra coach Augusto D’Silva, who is making his maiden stint with the state team is keen to finish the tournament on a high. “We want to win at all cost. We lost to them (Services) in the Group stage after conceding a late goal in additional period. Since we have already qualified for the semi-finals, I had decided to play my reverse players. But, in the final we will be at full-strength,” D’Silva pointed out.
“The fight will be between our youth and their experience and I am confident that my youngsters play to their potential and fight hard it would get us the desired results,” said a confident D’Silva, who is also banking on the home supporters to motivate the boys.
Meanwhile, Services will try to put their vast experience to great advantage and try to outsmart their younger opponents. So it’s going an interesting battle of youth versus experience.