Maharashtra Gears Up for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25: Squad Announced for the Qualifying Round

by Chittu Shetty November 14, 2024

Mumbai, November 14, 2024 – The Western India Football Association (WIFA) has officially announced the 22-member Maharashtra squad set to compete in the Qualifying Round of the 78th National Football Championship, commonly known as the Santosh Trophy.

The tournament, one of the most prestigious inter-state football competitions in India, holds a special place in the country’s sporting history, and Maharashtra is ready to make a statement as they head into this year’s championship.

The Maharashtra team, led by experienced Head Coach Paresh Shivalkar, is scheduled to kick off their campaign on November 16 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, placed in Group I. Maharashtra is set to clash against hosts Rajasthan, Gujarat, and DNH & DD in a bid to secure their place in the main round. All fixtures in the group stage will take place in Jaipur, adding an exciting layer to Maharashtra’s journey as they look to make an impact in the early rounds.

Fixture Schedule:

• November 16: Maharashtra vs. Rajasthan; Gujarat vs. DNH & DD
• November 18: Rajasthan vs. Gujarat; DNH & DD vs. Maharashtra
• November 20: Maharashtra vs. Gujarat; DNH & DD vs. Rajasthan

The team has a mix of young talent and experienced players, all of whom have gone through weeks of rigorous trials to secure their spot in the squad. The coaching staff, which includes the likes of Assistant Coach Ritesh Inumula and Goalkeeper Coach Mohammed Qadeer Shaikh, has worked hard to assemble a balanced and well-prepared team. With Manager Khaja Raziuddin Ansari overseeing operations and Team Physio Jai Suresh Mange ensuring players’ fitness, the team is primed to take on the challenge with renewed determination.

Squad:

The 22-man squad boasts players from various regions within Maharashtra, bringing together a diverse range of footballing skills.

Squad

1. Pruthviraj Abhay Salokhe
2. Rohit Raghunath Jadhav
3. Yashraj Manohar Kamble
4. Adithyan Prithviraj Dharmaj
5. Sumeet Bhanudas Kate
6. Tyson Jude Patel
7. Shanon Errol Pereira
8. Zaid Mohammed Naseem Ansari
9. Mohammed Arfat Aqeel Ansari
10. Kaustubh Ravindra Panchal
11. Nishant Sundar Shetty
12. Abhijit Tukaram Taware
13. Deepesh Purshottam Burrewar
14. Fahad Latifurr Junaid Azmi
15. Mohd Huzaif Maqsood
16. Aryan Ashish Banarjee
17. Yash Shankar Shukla
18. Owais Rashid Khan
19. Sumit Rajendra Singh Bhandari
20. Shubham Jagadish Pawar
21. Himanshu Sudhir Patil
22. Chinmay Mangesh Shirke

Coaching Staff:

• Manager: Khaja Raziuddin Ansari
• Head Coach: Paresh Vijay Shivalkar
• Assistant Coach: Ritesh Inumula
• Goalkeeper Coach: Mohammed Qadeer Shaikh
• Team Physio: Jai Suresh Mange

A Legacy to Revive

Maharashtra has a storied history in the Santosh Trophy, having reached the finals 15 times and won the championship on four occasions. However, their last title win came over two decades ago in the 1999-2000 season. The team came close to adding a fifth title in the 2015-16 season, only to fall just short, finishing as runners-up. Since then, Maharashtra has consistently qualified for the final round but struggled to make it past the group stages and into the semi-finals. This year’s squad is determined to change that narrative and bring the Santosh Trophy back to Maharashtra.

The team’s goal is not only to qualify for the final round but to make a deep run, aiming to overcome recent setbacks and deliver a standout performance. The opportunity to make history and etch their names in Maharashtra football lore is the driving force for this squad.

Stay tuned for updates as Maharashtra embarks on this exhilarating journey in the Santosh Trophy. The first game against hosts Rajasthan on November 16 will set the tone, and all eyes will be on this talented squad as they strive to bring the trophy back to Maharashtra.

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