GFA announces 20-member squad for Santosh Trophy

Panaji, May 24 (UNI) Defender Valeriano Rebello will lead a 20-member Goa team in the 62nd edition of the Santosh Trophy Football tournament, which will be held in Jammu and Kashmir from May 25 to June 15, the GFA announced here today.

Announcing the squad, the Goa Football Association (GFA) president Joaquim Alemao, who is also the Urban Development Minister also announced his personal cash award of Rs one lakh to the players of Goa team, if they win the Santosh trophy.

The other players in the team include Felix d Souza, Gerald D'Mello, Samir Naik, Micky Fernandes, Freddy Mascarenhas, John Dias, Cresson Antao, Nicolau Borges, Joaquim Abranches, Denzil Franco, Rowilson Rodrigues, Fulgencio Cardoz, Nicholas Rodrigues, Peter Carvalho, Milagres Gonsalves, Joseph Pereira, Drupesh Dessai, Francis Fernandes and Felip Gomes, while Tyson Caido, Jason Vales and Joe Rodrigues will be standbys.

Mr Alemao added that Budweiser will the official sponsor for the Goa team and also presented the players with special jerseys, designed by Wendell Rodricks.

Mr Rob Newman, sales and Marketing Director of Budweiser in India, after presenting the Jerseys to the players said, ''Budweiser is proud to support the Goa team, as they battle it out for the Santosh Trophy. Football is the world's favourite sport and in India its popularity is growing.'' GFA Secretary Savio Messias said Goa has a rich history in football. ''We won the Santosh Trophy two years ago in 2006 and we are confident that with the squad announced today, we have every opportunity to emerge champions for the fifth time,'' he said.

Goa team will leave for Jammu and Kashmir on May 26.

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