Pune FC hope to ride on their Goan successes

Pune FC remains determined as ever to continue their good run in the I-League despite constant injuries to key players. Thus, on the eve of their Round-18 away game against Sporting Clube de Goa (SCG) a timely reminder of showing strong character and remaining focused remained the buzzwords.

The game is the second of the three away games Pune FC play during their two-week grind on the road that began in Shillong and subsequently led to custodian Abhra Mondal ruled out for the season.

Abhra’s injury, since the night of Saturday (January 28), has led to many asking what next. That’s because Abhra is the third Pune FC ’keeper out, injured and moreover ever since Pune FC had signed him on-loan they have had an unbeaten run of 11 matches.

Coach Derrick Pereira, after a pre-match practice session at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco, curtly put it, “There’s nothing much that can be done. Unfortunate it is, but we remain strong as a team.”

Pune FC, meanwhile, have called in Shahinlal Meloly. The Kerala ’keeper himself was on the road to recovery after picking up injury during a Round-5 encounter against East Bengal. Thus in the goal it will be Shahinlal or youngster Amrinder Singh.

Ask about Amrinder, and the coach adds, “It’s a very good chance for him to shine under the bar. The experience and exposure will be a lifetime opportunity for the youngster to make a mark.”

Likewise, Pune FC will at full-strength when they get on to the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda with defenders Caitano Costa, Srikanth Ramu and midfielder Lester returning after serving a one-match suspension and thus opening up a host of options.

With the first leg between the teams ending 2-2, Pune FC over the years has never lost to SCG in three and in fact has the distinction of enjoying a neat record in Goa wherein a draw and a loss dot the seven wins recorded against Goan teams.

“We have always played well on my home ground,” explains the coach and adds “I am expecting a good performance by my players and God willing a good result as well.”

On his Goan opponents, he opines, “they (SCG) are a good team. In the first leg despite we dominated them they came back to earn a point.”

The Goans go into the game with a five match unbeaten run, which includes beating Mohun Bagan and Mumbai FC at home. In fact, their results in the campaign so far has been in spurts: they started unbeaten in six, then lost five of their next seven and only drawing two in between before picking up again.

On his team’s run so far, the Pune FC coach felt, “We are happy to have got something or the other from the each of the eleven matches and we will be happy to continue the trend wherein three points would be fulfilling.”

For Pune FC, apart from doing their best the priority will be to move up the ranks after dropping out of the Top-5 two rounds back and above all join Club 30 points. Pune FC are currently 7^th on the league table, while SCG are 8^th.

SCG will be be missing their sole Indian international and captain Adil Khan, Guinean defender Boubaca Keita, and left-sided regular Jovel Martins.