Team Herald
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RAIA: Dempo Sports Club will face SC Bengaluru in their fourth match of the I-League 2024-25 season on December 7, at the Bangalore Football Stadium.
Coming off a hard-fought 1-0 win against Namdhari FC, secured by Matija Babovic’s lone strike, Dempo SC are currently sitting in third place on the league table, with seven points from three matches -boasting two wins and one draw.
On the other hand, SC Bengaluru, the I-League II champions from last season, are struggling at the bottom of the standings. The Bengaluru-based side is yet to pick up a point, having suffered three consecutive defeats, the most recent coming at home against Churchill Brothers.
Reflecting on his team’s performance in their win over Namdhari, Dempo SC coach Samir said, “The boys played well. We worked hard, stayed together and remained compact - those were key elements in getting the result.”
However, with just three days of recovery between fixtures, Samir acknowledged the challenge of quick turnarounds, stating, “As professionals, we have to be ready for all challenges. It’s okay - we have to take it as a challenge. We’ve travelled and now we’re playing again in such quick succession.”
Last season, Dempo SC also faced SC Bengaluru at the same venue during the I-League 2. When asked about the upcoming match, Samir emphasised the difference between the two leagues.
“This is a completely different league,” he said. “We’ve worked on certain things and hopefully, we will give our best. We’ve been doing that consistently, not only last season or this year but throughout the season - when we are together as a team.”