Four from city in Mah squad Four players, one asstT coach-cum-manager in team for U-20 nationals

 

 

Four footballers and one support staff from Nagpur will be representing Maharashtra Under-20 men’s team in the Swami Vivekanand U-20 National Football Championship which is being held at Narainpur in Chhattisgarh. The tournament, which started from April 10, is being played at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama ground. Of the four players picked in the 18-member State squad, three are from Ansar Club, Kamptee. Goalkeeper Amir Hamza, right winger Faizal Khan and defender Kawish Jafri are of Ansar Club while midfielder Munibur Rehman plays for KGN Football Club in the NDFA League.

 

The team also has experienced Owais Khan as assistant and goalkeeping coach, who will also double up as the manager of the team. Owais has represented Maharashtra in Santosh Trophy National Championship for seven seasons. The Western India Football Association (WIFA) announced the team on Wednesday. This talented squad, a blend of promising young talents, is all set to showcase its skills and compete for top honours in the national arena. The team will be led by Abhishek Rawat while Siddhant Satpute will be his deputy. The selection trials were held at Mumbai where around 70 players from all over the State participated. Maharashtra are placed in Group D and will play their opening match on May 12 against Himachal Pradesh. A day later, they will lock horns with Mizoram in a morning fixture.

 

The team will then clash with Jharkhand on May 16 and will complete their league round on May 20 against Tripura. The quarter-final between Group C and D will be played on May 23 followed by semi-final on 25th and final on 27th. Squad: Amir Hamza (GK, Nagpur), Soham Khamkar (GK, Kolhapur), Siddhant Satpute (Vice-Captain, Mumbai), Eashan Sartape (Raigad), Keanan Bhobe (Mumbai), Dhawal Tandel (Palghar), Clint Fernandes (Mumbai), Kshitij Maral (Raigad), Prem Desai (Kolhapur), Mohd Kawish Zafri (Nagpur), Mohd Faizal Khan (Nagpur), Avanish Chadanvarkar (Pune), Abhishek Rawat (Captain, Mumbai), Arhev Jodhwani (Pune), Niranjan Gaikwad (Raigad), Shaikh Muneebur (Nagpur), Parth Mohite (Kolhapur), Joy Shelke (Ahmednagar). Head Coach: Clinton D’Souza. Manager: Owais Khan.