The group of fighters who left for Cuba on the boat called Granma had only one person who was sure that they could win the revolution – Fidel Castro. The world later saw that assurance made history. Sathivan Balan, who completed his sports education at Santa Clara University in Cuba, was in almost the same situation in 2018. No one dreamed that the Kerala football team that set out for Kolkata by train would win the Santosh Trophy; Except Sathivan Balan.
But they made it possible by knocking the hosts of the tournament, Bengal. Yes, Sathivan Balan and his team will return to Arunachal Pradesh in search of Santosh Trophy title tomorrow. Travel by plane, not by train. Then hope will skyrocket. What is on the mind of Sathivan Balan this time? Let’s see…
∙ Training, preparation, crisis, survival ?
The Santosh Trophy training camp also came during the KPL tournament. Many who were supposed to participate in the Santosh Trophy camp were playing KPL. After the KPL, the team got to train together for a few days. But hopefully this will not be a problem. Everyone is fit as it is time to play in the tournament.
∙ What is the main positive aspect of our team?
Our team creates more goal chances. How many of them can be converted into goals is another matter. However, the chances of winning will increase only if you create more goal chances. From goal keeping to attacking, there is currently no weakness in the composition of the team. Then there’s football, it’s in its nature to be unpredictable.
∙ The first match will be with the Assam team in good form. Are the physical factors of Arunachal climate and playing in a stadium very high above sea level in their favour?
The first match against any team is always a hurdle. Assam qualified in the group round at home. We arrive there two days early to adjust to the weather.
∙ There may be a shortage of Malayalee spectators in Arunachal. Is the lack of gallery support a problem?
My experience is that it doesn’t affect the performance of the gallery support team too much. Blasters fail in ISL not because of lack of gallery support. Our footballers have not progressed professionally like European football in general.
2024-02-16 04:10:06
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