MARGAO: Churchill Brothers Football Club are all set to entertain the fans and exhibit a fresh brand of football, in the Hero I-League national football championship 2017-18, as they open their campaign away to Shillong Lajong on December 2.
Churchill Brothers, who have opted to play their home matches at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda will play their first home game on December 19 against Chennai City FC.
With the league running simultaneously with the Indian Super Leaue, the club had to part ways with most of the players from their last season squad which saw them lose even their head coach Derrick Pereira.
However, there is no stopping to the Red Machines in their second season after their comeback. They have inducted a new foreign coach Mykola Shevchenko from Ukrain and five foreign players to go for the kill, right from the word go.
Churchill Brothers Coach Mykola Shevchenko had a bitter start to his campaign with the Red Machines in the local league but the Ukrainian believes winning and losing are part of the game.
Mykola said, “I have prepared the team with mediation on football and motivation for football along with discipline and confidence.”
Shevchenko promotes an attacking brand of football, having coached FC Lokomotiv Uzbekistan and the U-23 and the National Teams of Uzbekistan.
He is supported by Assistant Coach Alfredo Fernandes of Benaulim. The foreign acquisitions include two defenders –Emuejeraye Precious from Singapore(Asian) and Osagie Monday from Nigeria; midfielder Peter Omoduemuke from Nigeria and two Strikers — Eric Obinna Nwaimo from Nigeria and Dinh Van Ta from Vietnam(Asian).
Speaking ahead of their I-League season, Club Patron Churchill Alemao said, “We are the only club playing in the I-League and want the support of the football fans during our campaign that will keep us motivated,”
Alemao urged that All India Football Federation and Goa Football Association should work together for the betterment of the game.
He also revealed about the difficulties he faced to sign the Nigerian players due to Visa related issues which delayed in signing the players for the league.
Valanka Alemao CEO of Churchill Brother FC said they are hopeful of winning the league this time and further revealed they are promoting grassroots football with their junior teams.
However, Valanka showed displeasure of playing the matches at 2 p.m. and said, “It’s inhuman to play us at noon. The players may not be able to give their best at this mentioned time. We are hopeful that concerned authorities will look into this matter,” she lamented.
Churchill Brothers, two time I-League winners, begin their campaign with four away matches.
They take on Shillong Lajong FC in Shillong on December 2, and then lock horns with Mohun Bagan in Kolkata on December 10.
Churchill Brothers will be up against Aizawl FC, in Aizawl, on December 13, followed by the December 16 clash with Kingfisher East Bengal in Kolkata.
