Churchill meet Qadsia today
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
KUWAIT, MAY 11
With captain Odafa Okolie back in the team, coach Carlos Pereira is confident that Churchill Brothers will put up a better showing when they face formidable Al Qadsia in a crucial AFC Cup pre-quarter final match at Mohammed Al Hamad Stadium, here tomorrow.
The match will kick off at 6.45 p.m. Kuwait time (9.45 p.m IST) to make allowance for extra time and penalty kicks should the match end in a draw after full time.
Coach Carlos, parried questions on Churchill’s dismal performance against Kuwait Sporting and sounded positive that the team put the huge loss in the backburner and that the players were now ready to put up a befitting performance so that they can look to entering the quarter-final stage.
Given the reputation of Qadsia, Carlos is likely to opt for a defensive strategy with five defenders, four medios and a lone striker. Qadsia are a strong team, being the Kuwait League champions. Previously they have even made it to the AFC Champions League semi-final and have even defeated Kuwait Sporting recently to stamp their authority on no uncertain terms.
Qadsia coach Mohammad Hajish appeared very confident at the press briefing on Tuesday. “Churchill are doing well in the India League, they are a good team, and one cannot judge them based on one bad game against Kuwait Sporting,” disclosed the Qadsia coach.
“After the huge loss, Churchill are expected to hit back with a vengeance tomorrow, and as such we have to take them very seriously,” remarked the Qadsia coach who has given the team 19 major trophies.
The Qadsia coach said they have a match in hand against Al Arabia on Friday in the Asian Cup. He was yet to decide on the composition of his squad but made one point clear, that Churchill is not a very strong side and as such he would concentrate on Friday’s match, rather then the Wednesday’s match.
