MARGAO
Anuj Gupta, the President of the Delhi Soccer Association, expressed optimism as the final round of the 78th Senior National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy approaches, stating that the team is determined to perform to the best of their abilities.
The tournament, which will begin on December 14 in Hyderabad, Telangana, will see Delhi competing in Group B against some of the toughest teams in the country, including Goa.
The tournament will feature twelve teams: the nine group stage winners, the two finalists from last season (Services and Goa), and the hosts, Telangana. These teams are divided into two groups of six. The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be held on December 26 and 27. All matches until the quarterfinals will be played at the Deccan Arena, with the semifinals on December 29 and the final on December 31 at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium.
Delhi are pooled in Group B alongside Goa (2023-24 runners-up), Kerala (Group H winners), Tamil Nadu (Group G winners), Odisha (Group F winners), and Meghalaya (Group E winners).
Gupta acknowledged the strength of their competitors but remained confident in Delhi’s chances. “We understand that Goa is a strong team, and all the teams in this group are tough. We don’t underestimate any team. We have a solid mix of young and experienced players, and we believe this is our year. Our team is confident and ready to give its best performance,” said Gupta.
He also praised the preparation led by coach Vikrant Sharma, a former Dempo goalkeeper, adding, “We came through the qualifying rounds with flying colours, and coach Sharma has done an excellent job preparing the team.”
Gupta stressed the importance of focusing on the game rather than the expectations or support from outside. “We are playing against the team, not their supporters. We only think about the game and the opponent team,” he said.
As the team prepares for the challenges ahead in Andhra Pradesh, Gupta remains confident that under the guidance of coach Sharma, Delhi will give a strong performance in the tournament.
