All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday, appointed Santosh Kashyap as the new head coach of the national senior women's team.
Kashyap is the replacement of former international player Chaoba Devi. Priya PV will be assisting Kashyap as a coach and Raghuvir Pravin Khanolkar will assist him as the goalkeeper coach.
He said, "Coaching the National Team is always an honour. I am grateful to the AIFF President, Kalyan Chaubey, the technical committee, the technical department, and other senior members of the federation for providing me the opportunity to coach the senior national women's team.”
“I have full faith in the current set of players in the team. They are all bright players. But what we require to improve is technically,” he continued.
“I am confident that I can give the needed input to the team members during the national camp,” Kashyap added.
Kashyap's first assignment will be the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women's Championships, scheduled to begin in Kathmandu, Nepal, from October 17 to 30. India's 29-member squad will camp in Goa from September 20 in preparation for the championships.
Talking about SAFF, Kashyap said, "I am aware that our result in the previous SAFF Championship didn't meet the expectations. But this time, with the right tactics, approach, and decision-making ability, we can regain the title."
"Football has become an extremely competitive sport, especially at the international level. So, we shouldn’t take any team lightly,” he added.
"SAFF is only the first step. Thereafter, I have a bigger plan in mind. I am sure, this team is capable of delivering the goods,” he ended.
Kashyap has almost a decade of coaching experience in the I-League, and headed clubs like Mohun Bagan, Aizawl FC, and Mumbai FC.
The 58-year-old has also been the assistant coach of NorthEast United FC, and most recently of Odisha FC, in the Indian Super League.
List of 29 players for the Indian senior women's team camp in Goa:
Goalkeepers: Elangbam Panthoi Chanu, Moirangthem Monalisha Devi, Payal Ramesh Basude.
Defenders: Aruna Bag, Dalima Chhibber, Jabamani Tudu, Juli Kishan, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, Mousumi Murmu, Ngangbam Sweety Devi, Sanju, Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, Wangkhem Linthoingambi Devi, Yumlembam Pakpi Devi.
Midfielders: Anjana Thapa, Anju Tamang, Dangmei Grace, Hemam Shilky Devi, Karishma Purushottam Shirvoikar, Karthika Angamuthu, Manisha, Naorem Priyanka Devi, Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi, Sangita Basfore, Soumya Guguloth.
Forwards: Jyoti, Ngangom Bala Devi, Rimpa Haldar, Sandhiya Ranganathan.
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