We take a lot of pride in the fact that our club has qualified to play in the AFC Champions League play-off against Al Sadd (Qatar) and the boys are prepared to give their best to ensure that the team gets a favourable result on the morrow,” stated a confident Dempo head coach Armando Colaco at a pre-match press conference at Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad stadium.
“Dempo have always approached football in a professional way possible and our club chairman Shrinivas V Dempo has always backed the team. We are very keen to make a mark in the play-off match and give our best to seek a qualification into the main draw of the competition,” Armando stated.
Armando remarked that things are expected to be tough tomorrow not only because Al Sadd are playing in front of their home supporters, but also because they have beaten Syrian club Al Ittihad 5-1 coming into tomorrow’s encounter.
“A victory for Dempo would be historic. We are the first Indian club to reach the semi-finals of AFC Cup in 2008,” reminded Armando.
“We possess experience and with a majority of our players having played for India at last month’s Asian Cup in Doha coupled with the presence of experienced foreigners like Beto and Ranti, I am sure Dempo will cast a good impression on Al Sadd, who boast of a strong combination of imports from Brazil and Ivory Coast,” summed up Armando on the eve of the match.
Captain Ranti Martins also backed Dempo to do well. “We have done extremely well over the past few seasons both in India as well as AFC Cup. So the onus is on the players to get their act right and portray themselves as a competitive team against the Qatari opposition.”
“We are aware that Al Sadd has Keita (Ivory Coast) and Leandro Da silva (Brazil) as their aggressive foreign duo upfront but we will put up a good show as we are a competitive side,” said Ranti.
Meanwhile, Al Sadd coach Jorge Fossati of Uruguay is confident that his team will give a repeat performance of the match against Syria’s Al Ittihad whom they beat 5-1.
“We are eager to complete the match in 90 minutes and show our supremacy against Dempo. We shall be no complacents. We need to respect our opposition and also be aware of what they could dish out tomorrow. I am not in a mood to take anything for granted. The match is very, very important and I am sure the home support will see us through,” expressed Jorge.
“I am confident of victory even when I have never seen Dempo on the field. Our players have been told to respect the rivals but the stress is on start and complete the match well,” the 58-year-old coach divulged.
Tomorrow’s match begins at 5.50 p.m. local time which translates to 8.20 p.m. IST.
There will be extra-time if the match ends in a draw at full time, failing which it will be the tie-breaker.
Goans residing in Doha-Qatar are expected to turn up in large numbers to cheer Dempo in the crucial encounter.
