Though In first match FC Goa went down fighting against Mohammedan Sporting but now they are ready to give a tough fight to the services team.Before today’s match with Air Force Promising forward Pharangki Buam and the team’s head coach Deggie Cardozo shared their thoughts with PRATYUSHA MUKHERJEE.
19-year-old Phrangki Buam is one of the up coming youngsters who joined FC Goa on 2020-21 season. Hailing from the Jaintia Hills region in Meghalaya, Phrangki Buam started his career with Royal Wahingdoh, where he appeared for their U-16 and U-18 sides. He then moved to Shillong Lajong, where he helped the side in winning the U-18 youth league in 2018.
EXCERPTS:
EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH FORWARD PHARANGKI BUAM
As the defending champions of Durand Cup from the previous season, what are your expectations for this season?
As the coach said, we go into every game with the intent of winning it. The result may not have been in our favour in the first match, but we are still in the hunt and we intend to make the most of our opportunities.
Has the team begun training for the next matches?
Of course, the team has been training. We have training sessions every day, after which we have a gym session as well once in a while.Our coaching staff has been very supportive of us. Personally for me, as an attacker, I’ve found plenty of help in their words of advice, as those helped me improve my game and correct some flaws.
How crucial is it for you to have the Durand Cup as your season’s opening tournament in terms of boosting your confidence?
It’s good that the Durand Cup has been added to the Indian football calendar. As an FC Goa player, I’ve just returned to the Club after a loan spell. I now intend to use my opportunities in the Durand Cup to the fullest, to earn a place in the Club’s first team.
What does it feel like this year that the Northeast states are hosting the Durand Cup?
It’s a great thing for Northeast India, as it gives them some attention. The people of Northeast are football-loving and I’m sure they’ll turn up to every game. All matches will be held in front of packed stands.
I was a bit disappointed that our (FC Goa’s) games are not held in the Northeast, because had it been so, all my friends and family would have turned up to support me. But it is fine in Kolkata too- meanwhile, I know my people are watching me perform on television.
Q.As the defending champion of the Durand Cup, the fans have high expectations for FC Goa. What do you have to say to them?
Our objective is to try and win every game we compete in. A few individual mistakes cost us in our opener against Mohammedan SC, but we have since worked on those and we’re confident of bouncing back.
HEAD COACH DEGGIE CARDOZO
Q.How is your team preparing for the upcoming Durand Cup?
We have been training together in Goa since July 18. After nearly a month of preparation, we left for Kolkata two days before our first match. Since arriving in Kolkata, we have been training regularly while also paying real attention to the players’ recovery as well as the matches come thick and fast.
Q.Can you share the team prospects for the upcoming season?
We are excited about the fact that we will be playing for a greater part of the year this time, as opposed to the previous seasons which were cut short due to COVID-19 among other reasons. After the Durand Cup, we have the Goa Pro League season that will go on till April or May 2023. Most of our players are of the U20 category, which means they will also play in the GFA U20 First Division League.We also intend to take part in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) and the I-League Second Division, if and when both competitions return to the Indian football calendar.
INTERVIEWED BY PRATYUSHA MUKHERJEE, an International and National award winning senior Broadcast Journalist of a reputed Western media .
Source : FC Goa
