NAGPUR: On one side there are the defending champions. Not just defending champions, but the most consistent team in the Santosh Trophy post 2012 having made it to five Finals (including this edition) and won three.
On the other side are the hosts. Across all sports in the World, there’s always a sentiment associated with ‘hosts.’ It’s same here too. Add to that a bunch of talented young unit who are adept with the basics of the game, and the support from the stands.
Not that the SEC Railway Stadium in Nagpur is a huge one, but Services Coach SP Shaji is aware about the partisan crowd. “The crowd will always motivate you from the stands and it raises the performance. But that’s our challenge. We would love to play against them and silence them,” he smiles.
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We want to beat them and be Champions,” Shaji declares.
But Maharashtra are in no mood to be “silenced.”
“There’s no looking back,” states Coach Augusto D’Silva. “There’s no running away. Our strategy is simple – Run, Run, Run; Pass, Pass, Pass,” he adds.
“We want to beat them and be Champions,” Augusto declares.
Interestingly enough, the History Book points out that both Services and Maharashtra have won the Santosh Trophy four times each. While Services have won in 1960, 2012, 2013 and 2015; Maharashtra have also triumphed four times – in 1954 (as Bombay), 1963, 1990 and in 1999.
Nagpur isn’t a City of skyscrapers; rather despite all the online invasion, it has still been able to retain its old charm and it’s is bound to strike you. There are old Buildings, some quite Old, the architecture of which is unfortunately slowly being pushed into History Books.
People are friendly. On the streets, though it isn’t that hot as yet and the evenings are quite pleasant, you will find ladies across all ages covering their faces with their Dupattas as a precaution against the Heat. And there’s green! Wherever you go, you will find green – amidst the posh Malls, snazzy Offices and those 200-year old Buildings – there’s a bit of green which will catch your eye.
How do you rate Maharashtra, you ask SP Shaji.
“They are such an organised Team. But our Strikers are faster. Hopefully, they get it wrong on the day,” he smiles.
How do you rate Services, you then ask Augusto?
“They are a strong Team. They are also an experienced Team. But we have youth on our side. We are fearless,” he quips. “We will play our attacking game.”
The Crowd will love it for sure. Maharashtra last won some 17 years back and it was 11 years back that they made it to the Final only to lose to Goa in 2005.
This will be the second clash between the two Teams in the Competition as both the Teams had played once during the Group stages where Services prevailed 1-0.
“In that match, we had to play our second string. We had injuries, two Players were suspended and as we had already reached the semis by then, we decided to play safe. But the Final will be a different Ball game,” Augusto clarifies.
The average age of the Maharashtra Team, Augusto informs is around 23. In the semifinal against a strong Tamil Nadu, the boys looked very comfortable with the Ball, willing and more importantly able to play the short passes frustrating the opposition, not quite willing to lose possession.
Augusto, however, stays a bit wary that the occasion shouldn’t get to the Boys. It’s a Final, they are young and they may come under pressure. “But it’s my job to guide them. They have to fall back on their skills to see them through,” he states.
Services are more direct and more at your face. They have the experience and that ‘never say die attitude,’ which makes them so dangerous. They depend more on their fitness and pressing Football and that has paid them well so far.
Upfront, the guile of Arjun Tudu, fearless, quick and playing like a Man possessed in the semifinal, there is someone whom the Coach fall back upon. Confident after his stint in the National Camp under National Coach Stephen Constantine, his perseverance rattled the Goan defence almost all throughout.
“We are the Army. We will fight,” Shaji pronounces, and that sums it all.
The Better Team will win; in fact, the Best.
The kick-off at the SEC Railway Stadium in Nagpur on Sunday (March 13) is at 3pm.
By Nilanjan Datta,
AIFF Media Team
