PANJIM: Amid the Indian Super League (ISL) excitement, all attention will move to Goa as Port Town giants Salgaocar Football Club face Pune Football Club in the final of 127th Durand Cup, at Raia panchayat ground, on Saturday. The kick-off is at 3 p.m.
Salgaocar are chasing their third Durand Cup triumph, having won the prestigious tournament in 1999 and 2003, whilst on the other hand this is Pune FC’s maiden entry into the Durand Cup final.
Derrick Pereira who was at the helm of affairs at Pune FC for four years until the end of the 2012-13 will be up against his former club and so will his counterpart Karim Bencherifa, who has coached Salgaocar FC earlier and won the I-League title with The Greens in the 2010-11 campaign.
There will be a few players on either side that will be taking on former team-mates with Ivorian Douhou Pierre, Gurjinder Kumar and Othallo Tabia, having been roped in by Salgaocar FC at the start of the season from The Red Lizards.
On the other hand, Brazilian Luciano Sabrosa and Japanese Ryuji Seouka who have donned the Green of Salgaocar earlier are currently with the Pune-based outfit.
Salgaocar FC got the better of current I-League champions Bengaluru FC in a nail biting semi-finals that went down to penalties which finally ended 5-4 in favour of The Greens whilst Pune FC beat Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 in regulation time.
“We are delighted to have overcome Bengaluru FC in a tightly contested semi-finals that has done the team’s confidence a world of good. We are all geared up and are extremely focussed on the final, knowing we are just one step away from winning this prestigious tournament. We have worked extremely hard since the start of the season and it’s about executing and implementing everything we’ve practiced on the training ground on the big day. For a lot of the boys, it is their first ever Durand Cup final and I really want them to enjoy the occasion”, exclaimed coach Derrick Pereira.
The final round of the 127th edition of the Durand Cup which began on the 29th of October now has the final two standing. With the tournament being played in Goa for the very first time, The Greens will be keen to ensure the trophy stays in Goa this time round.
“I’d like to specially thank the fans for turning up in large numbers despite the 8.45 am kick-off and really getting behind the team. The final should be a real spectacle and I am hopeful of seeing a full house tomorrow” concluded the gaffer.
