PANJIM: Christian Roldan, the Spanish football coach of The Kings School, expressed his pride and excitement about his team, saying, “My team is super powerful in terms of learning and is open to learning even more. The girls have good qualities and I am enjoying myself.” This follows their recent qualification from South Goa to represent the State in the Subroto Cup International football tournament in Delhi this month.
The team is currently undergoing rigorous training and exudes confidence about their performance in the upcoming tournament. The school has a comprehensive system to ensure their footballers make the most of this opportunity.
“I have been working with the team for the last year. We conduct three training sessions every week, two in the morning and one in the afternoon. I am also focusing on their physical fitness and individual skill enhancement,” Christian explained. He has been with the school since 2019 as the sports director, overseeing training and all sports academy affairs.
Reflecting on their recent State tournament, which secured their qualification for the Subroto Cup, Christian noted it was a challenging competition. The team won every game without conceding a goal. He mentioned that while they controlled most games, two matches were particularly tough.
Christian highlighted the matches against Fatima Convent High School, Margao, and Rosary High School, Navelim, as the toughest. These teams knew The Kings School’s system well since they were from the same area and made special defensive arrangements to counter them. Additionally, coordinating training was challenging because eight players were also part of the GFA training system. It was crucial to ensure the girls did not suffer any injuries.
When asked about the team’s main strengths, Christian praised their goalkeeper, whom he considers the best in the State for her age group, as well as the centreback, midfielder and striker. He expressed confidence in these key positions.
Christian also singled out Valaina Fernandes, a 15-year-old centre midfielder, as a standout player with great potential. The team will arrive in Delhi on August 4 and play their first match the next day against a school from Bangladesh.
The team is enthusiastic and ready for the tournament. Valaina, who scored seven goals in the State championship, expressed her aspirations, saying, “I want to represent India and also play abroad at a higher level.” She developed a love for football watching her father and brother play and is now looking forward to the tournament in Delhi.
Another notable player is Neha Verlekar, a right winger who started playing at 13. Inspired by the school’s sports director, she took up football and enjoys setting up goals for her teammates. Neha hopes to play for the State in the future.
Lastly, Vanya Rodrigues, a 14-year-old central defensive midfielder, admitted to being nervous during the State tournament but acknowledged that the team functioned like a well-oiled machine. She praised their smart football and knowledgeable coach, expressing optimism about their preparation for the Delhi tournament.