Salgaocar FC head coach Malcolm Thomson is full of praise for the junior (U-20) team that will be taking on Tuff Laxmi Prasad SC in the Goa Police Cup final tomorrow.
"It is fantastic that you are putting pressure on us (the first team) with your performance. This can only be good for the club as youngsters like yourselves keep knocking on the doors of the senior team," Thomson said while addressing the boys after their semi-final victory.
They had earlier defeated Churchill Brothers SC and Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim en route to reaching the final.
With most teams participating in the tournament having fielded squads that are likely to feature in the Goa Professional League, due to commence from August 23, Salgaocar chose to give their U-20 boys an opportunity for exposure.
Majority of this squad was part of the U-19 side last year that went on to clinch the GFA Third Division title in addition to finishing third in the U-19 I-League.
The team showed character to bounce back against Churchill Brothers in the quarter-finals after being a goal down. A clinical performance saw them get the better of Cavelossim 3-2 in the semi-finals.
Their opponents in tomorrow's final are a team that has been on ascendancy over the past couple of years.
Tuff Laxmi Prasad had finished runners-up in the Goa Professional League last season.
