Pune FC take on Goan-side Salgaocar FC in the opening clash of the I-League at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Saturday.
On the eve of the game, Pune FC Head Coach Karim Bencherifa spoke at the pre-match press conference about the players and the team, the mood in the camp and also on facing Salgaocar FC for the third time this season.
Excerpts;
Are you all set for the game against Salgaocar FC?
Well yes, it is always a pleasure playing here against Salgaocar. They are a team that likes to play good, competitive football. Both the teams have always had very competitive but pleasant encounters in the past. We played against them in the final of the Durand Cup. We also played against them in the all-important match of the Federation Cup. Though we lost both the matches, in terms of performance, possession, chances created and overall gameplay, I was very happy with our team. On both the occasions we had a very good game and a very strong second half.
Can you tell us more about the team?
Currently, I have 19 players with me in Goa and I have full faith in them. All of them are in top condition and are looking forward to the game. Of course, it has to be mentioned that we are missing some key players as well. We are missing Anas Edathodika, Lalrempuia Fanai and Prakash Thorat in this game due to injury. All of them were a part of the playing 11 since the start of the season and were instrumental in us achieving all the good results during this time. Hopefully, they will be back in the second game.
To continue from before, we will most probably play with two foreigners. One of our new signings, Darko Nikac, just came in yesterday and we will take a decision only on matchday. But basically, we have Luciano Sabrosa and Ryuji Sueoka who will be available. So we are not playing our full team, but I have full faith in the players that they will deliver.
You have mentioned that Pune FC has lost against Salgaocar in the Federation Cup and the Durand Cup. Does that make this match a revenge game?
No, not at all. Right from the beginning, I said that it has always been a pleasure playing against Salgaocar. There is no feeling of revenge or anything. The angle that I am looking at for this game is the level of football that is being played. I have been involved with Indian football for the last seven-eight years. This I-League experience for me has been very valuable. I have won it once and have been a runner-up twice. So I know how it works. It is very important to have a good start. One of the times when we finished runners-up, it was because we did not win the first five matches. And though after that we had ten wins in a row, still we couldn’t win the league itself. So it is very important to have a good start, so that it sets the course for the future of the team in the I-League. I am looking forward to a good game. I am looking forward to see the team step up to the challenge and try to get those three points.
We really want to win the game. We know what a huge advantage it is playing a home game. We have two away games on the trot starting with this one, after which we have to go to Bengaluru to play against the champions. I wish that we had a home game fixture for the opening matches of the I-League but there are no complains about it. We will try and win the games as they come. Despite starting with the challenge of playing an away game with a good team like Salgaocar, we will try to get the maximum points from the game.
