New Delhi : The All India Football Federation (AIFF) appointed Santosh Kashyap as the new head coach of the Indian senior women's team on Monday.
A 29-member Blue Tigresses squad will camp in Goa from September 20 in preparation for the SAFF Women's Championship to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from October 17 to 30, 2024.
A former India international, Kashyap has almost a decade of coaching experience in the I-League, managing clubs like Mohun Bagan AC, Aizawl FC, Mumbai FC, Salgaocar FC, Royal Wahingdoh FC, Rangdajied United FC, ONGC, and Air India. 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, as per a press release from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Kashyap will have Priya PV as his assistant coach and Raghuvir Pravin Khanolkar as the goalkeeper coach. Talking to the-aiff.com, Kashyap 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."
A reputed footballer of the 1980s, and then a top club coach, Kashyap said he began his coaching journey by training the Maharashtra U19 women's team for the National Championship in the early years of this century.
"Currently, I am working as the Head of Youth Development and Technical Director of Odisha FC. I have full faith in the current set of players in the Senior Women's National Team. They are all bright players. But what we require to improve is tactically. I am confident that I can give the needed input to the team members during the National camp."
"I am aware that our result in the previous SAFF Championship did not 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 should not take any team lightly. 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," said the newly-appointed senior women's head coach. -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 Priyangka Devi, Nongmaithem Ratanbala Devi, Sangita Basfore, Soumya Guguloth. *Forwards: Jyoti, Ngangom Bala Devi, Rimpa Haldar, Sandhiya Ranganathan. *Head coach: Santosh Kashyap.