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Father-son to take on PIFA Colaba
India Blooms News Service
Pune, Mar 2 (IBNS): Clifford Chukwuma has handful of worries with several of his players suffering from injuries forcing him to put off picking the squad for Sesa Goa’s opening match against PIFA Colaba in the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football (AKMF) Cup at the floodlit Bharati Vidyapeeth Educational Complex ground in Dhankavdi on Saturday.
But Chukwuma has a trump card in his son Chikudi, who has risen from the junior ranks with excellent performance. Chikudi was the top-scorer for Sesa Goa in the I-League second division.
“We are directly coming from there. It has been very hectic schedule and hence we have so many injury worries ahead of the opening match here,” said Cyril Rodrigues, manager of Sesa Goa after having a workout at the venue Friday evening.
The Nigerian Chukwuma, who coached Sporting Clube de Goa for some time before moving to Sesa, has the youngest team in the championship at his disposal. The average age of Sesa Goa players is 23 years with almost 95 percent are native Goans.
“Though we are playing the opening match of the tournament, I am pretty confident that our team will seize the opportunity and begin on a high. Chikudi is a very good and dependable striker and is in excellent form,” said Rodrigues.
Captain Pratesh Shirodkar has the ability to carry the role of playmaker and he should be the key player to watch. Chikudi’s exploits stem from Shirodkar’s brilliance in the field and the two should be handful on the morrow.
Defender Valinton D’Silva, midfielders Steven Fernandes and Marcus Fernandes and goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes make up the strong squad. They all have come through the four-year junior programme before making it to the senior team.
Asked about what he expected from PIFA Colaba, Rodrigues said that Sesa has not seen this Mumbai team in the past. “In fact we heard about them only now, but we won’t be complacent or anything.”
PIFA Colaba finished runner-up to Amanora Deccan XI FC in the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Shield, a state-level tournament from where the finalists make it to the higher-rated football Cup.
“Actually don’t know what to expect from PIFA, but with so many injuries we have, Sesa will be careful at the start of the tournament,” Rodrigues added.
Sesa Goa is in Group B where former champions Mumbai FC is the third team in the fray. Top two teams from each of the two groups will qualify for the semifinals.
Group A comprises Prayag United SC, Air India, Mumbai and Amanora Deccan XI FC.
The inaugural match kicks off at 7.00 pm.
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