PANJIM: Churchill Brothers Football Club will aim for full points when they take on title aspirants Aizawl FC at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, on Saturday.
Aizawl are joint toppers of the I-league alongside Mohun Bagan and are aiming to become the first team from the northeast to win the national title.
Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers are currently placed sixth in the table but coach Derrick refused to concede that his team was safe from relegation.
“We are yet to be safe and we need three more points,” Derrick Pereira said.
All eyes will be on Aizawl as they look to create history but Churchill Brothers have proved in the past that they can cause an upset or two especially at home.
Churchill Bros coach Derrick Pereira feels that the pressure of expectations might weigh down Aizawl in the title run-in.
When asked about who will win the title, Derrick who guided Mahindra United to the national title felt that the battle was between I-League seasoned Bagan and newbies Aizawl.
“I think Mohun Bagan have the experience. They have better chances I feel. With Aizawl you never know if pressure plays on them. They have a lot of youngsters. Whereas Mohun Bagan have a lot of winners who have already won the title. So I think Mohun Bagan may be favourites. Not that Aizawl can’t win the title,” the veteran coach said.
Following a not-so-impressive start to the season, the Goan boys have recuperated well under the tutelage of the seasoned coach Derrick Pereira.
“We’re still not very safe from the relegation zone and tomorrow’s three points will definitely be a huge boost for us. I have asked my boys to give their best tomorrow on the pitch and by God’s grace, we’ll surely get a positive result,” said Derrick.
On being asked how’s the dressing room has been since their resurgence of late, Derrick mentioned, “The boys are responding well. They are pulling off together. Although I can’t deny a few niggle is there, but mostly we’re well-equipped before tomorrow’s game,”
Meanwhile, Keenan Almeida is out of Saturday’s clash because of his automatic suspension, but the rest of the squad is rearing to give it a shot.
He lauded Aizawl FC’s valiant effort wholeheartedly as well, “Last year they struggled but see, how they have come up the ranks this year. They’ve got three outstation players Albino, Jayesh and Ashutosh and the local boys- whatever Khalid has done with the squad, is just unimaginative,”
He added, “I’ve seen a few games of Aizawl FC. They fight for every single ball, they put pressure on their opponent. Even in the 90th minute, their energy level remains so high, it’s truly applaudable.”
Aizawl FC coach Khalid Jamil can’t afford to be complacent before this match and he rightly reiterated during the pre-match conference on Thursday.
The visitors, who have stunned every single critic to challenge for the coveted I-League title, have made to bite the dust at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium against the Blues last week, thanks to the solitary goal scored by Marjan Jugovic in the added minutes.
As far as Aizawl is concerned, Khalid feels that they will have one of their toughest matches of the season.
“Pressure is there but everybody is enjoying the pressure. It will be one of the most difficult matches as they (Churchill) have done well at home and have upset Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan. We cannot take the game lightly,” Khalid stated.
“We can’t take this match lightly. Churchill have beaten Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Bengaluru FC. We’re on a good run until now, we have to finish this job, hence we need all three points tomorrow.”
The ex-Mumbai FC coach praised his boys for their fighting spirit and their ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck, “They have believed in themselves, hence we’re here. We have backed ourselves always, even before taking on the bigwigs of Indian Football.”
“After so many positive results, now we’re left with only three matches where the dream can be fulfilled otherwise everything will fall astray. We’re still in the title race and we hope to pull it off nicely”, Khalid Jamil concluded.
