With seniors return, Dempo gunning for Churchill Bros

With seniors return, Dempo gunning for Churchill Bros
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 8
Dempo Sports Club defender Valeriano Rebello insists that his team’s back-to-back victories away from home can galvanize the holders of I-League crown in defending their title.
Valeriano himself is frustrated for remaining sidelined since the start of the league following a thigh muscle tear on the left leg but the long serving right wing back felt that the return of his international teammates came at the right time. “We’ve got back all of our players for the first time in the season. Injuries and international commitments had affected us very badly. Now that everybody is back, it has lent us the necessary strength. It’s not only us, the other teams also have their players back but most importantly for us our senior players are back into the team and that has given the others the belief and the assurance,” said Valeriano.
“We need another win and when we play Churchill Brothers on February 12 in the next round and it’s a huge match, a victory on Saturday will get us right back into contention but the second phase had just started and it’s still a long way to go,” explained Valeriano, who has resumed training.
Dempo had missed out on the services of their reliable defender since the Federation Cup last year but the former Goa Santosh Trophy skipper will have to wait at least another three weeks to regain full fitness. “It’s very irritating, I wanted to play in the AFC Cup tie on February 19 and that’ll be either in Syria or Qatar and it’s not possible as I have  started practicing recently. I have to regain my full fitness before playing again,” expressed Valeriano.
The Dempo defense had been error-prone such that the last year I-League winners had tasted an embarassing 4-0 defeat at the hands of minnows Air India but Valeriano supported his colleagues. “It happens sometimes, you had that terrible day where nothing goes right. We had players in every position but we can’t single out someone for the blame. Now we have Mahesh Gawli and Samir Naik back and that makes our rearguard very tough. Dempo now have a full and complete side and I think we’re ready to climb up the table, there’s still a lot to play for,” Valeriano revealed, before disclosing that the result of the local derby featuring Dempo and Churchill Brothers on Saturday at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Margao will have a vital impact on the course of the I-League title.