Raring to go: Captains Rajat Kumar (Punjab), Fullmoon Mukhim (Meghalaya), Karthik Govind Swamy (Karnataka), Bhabindra Malla Thakuri (Services) pose with the trophy.
| Photo Credit: Special association
Eight-time champion Punjab and six-time title winner Services lead the problem within the two semifinals because the National males’s soccer championship for the Santosh Trophy finds a brand new locale on the King Fahd International Stadium right here on Wednesday.
This is an effort from All India Football Federation to take advantage of its newly cast strategic partnership with the Saudi Arabia Football Federation in retrieving the competitors from its current situation of ailment.
Punjab, which final received the crown beating Services within the ultimate in Srinagar 15 years in the past (2007-08), may have newcomer Meghalaya as its opposition within the first semifinal. Services, the champion of the 2018-19 season, will meet Karnataka within the different conflict to succeed in the title spherical.
Having received the crown final as Mysore 54 years in the past, Karnataka shall be desirous to reclaim its misplaced stature as one of many hubs of Indian soccer. Meghalaya, which is quick rising because the nursery of soccer skills within the nation, may have the chance to claim itself in a giant manner within the seniors’ area.
Arriving a few days earlier than the semifinals, the 4 groups had intense classes on Tuesday on the observe services provided at King Fahd and Prince Faisal Stadiums. The climate appears to be simply superb for a very good contest on the desert kingdom because the temperature is hovering round cooler ranges, particularly within the night when each the semifinals shall be held.
The coaches of the 4 sides exuded confidence and hoped for a very good outing of their respective sides.
“I think all the four teams that have qualified for the semifinals overcame intense competition in the group-league stage of the quarterfinals. The contest in the semifinals will be interesting as all the teams are quite equal in strength,” mentioned the Punjab coach and former India worldwide Harjinder Singh.
Source web site: www.thehindu.com
