Churchill Brothers eye victory against Mohun Bagan


Team Udayavani, Mar 31, 2018, 4:58 PM IST

Bhubaneswar: Having defeated Delhi Dynamos in the qualifiers, Churchill Brothers will be eyeing a second victory when they lock horns with Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in the pre-quarterfinals of Super Cup here tomorrow.

“Yes, we got the sweeter result the other day but it’s a new test tomorrow. We have played Mohun Bagan twice this season but couldn’t garner a single point. We are aware of their football acumen and we respect them,” coach Alfred Fernandes said.

Newly-recruited striker Willis Plaza bombed a brace in the qualifiers to propel the Red Machines to the Round of 16 and he’ll be the ‘trump card’ for the Goan outfit tomorrow as well.

“Yes, you might term him as our trump card. We are in the hunt for the attacking spearhead and he fitted the bill perfectly. But, at the end of the day, it’ll be a team effort and we need to get the job done collectively,” Fernandes said.

Meanwhile, skipper Monday Osagie said Churchill have special plans for their counterparts including Dipanda Dicka, who wrapped the season with maximum goals in two consecutive Hero I-League seasons.

“Yes, I know him (Dicka) very well. We played them twice and we all know how dangerous he can be in the box. We are very keen to prove our diligence tomorrow. Dicka is a great player but there are other players too who can be equally dangerous. We have plans not only for him but everyone.” 

Mohun Bagan’s upsurge in the I-League started late which brought them very close to the title but didn’t end with the laurel. Sankarlal Chakraborty and his team has now shifted its focus to the Super Cup and the coach is now ready for the fresh challenge.

“It’s a tough match tomorrow. The tournament is different from I-League. A silly mistake can dent your journey heavily and it might end your path in the tournament as well. Churchill had a terrific game against Delhi Dynamos in the qualifier, far superior to their performance in the I-League and we have to be very cautious tomorrow,” Chakraborty said.

Although his team boasts of two wins in the I-League against the Red Machines, the coach believes that they are a transformed side who might pose a stiff challenge tomorrow.

“Whatever we did in the I-League, is past and we have already flipped the page. I-league is history and we have to focus on tomorrow’s game now. Churchill played an excellent game against Delhi Dynamos in the qualifier and we have to respect that,” he said.

On being asked to single out a player who might give him a sleepless night, Chakraborty said: “They brought in Plaza and he might wreak havoc on a given day. Foreigners akin to Plaza, Ceesay, Monday are well supported by the Indian players and it has been a dangerous team to play against.” 

Raynier Fernandes, the young midfielder who combined well with Cameron Watson soaking in the pressure reiterated that they’re not looking into the past and focused on the game ahead.

“Yes, we beat them twice but it starts from the scratch tomorrow. A mistake can cost us the match and we may have to leave Bhubaneswar empty-handed. We are well aware of the fact and are focusing on nothing but tomorrow’s match.” 

“We won’t go all out in attack from the kick-off, rather we’ll prefer to play a balanced football. We might change our strategies as the game proceeds,” Chakroborty added.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Suriya-starrer ‘Kanguva’ mints Rs 58.62 crore in worldwide gross on day one

Mangaluru: Car catches fire near Kadri Police Station

J-K: 2 teenage boys driving SUV die in road accident; sparks calls to curb underage driving

Forest department creating hurdles in development of Gadchiroli district: Gadkari

700 kg drugs seized, 8 Iranians caught in anti-narcotics operation along Gujarat coast

Kumaraswamy demands SIT probe into allegation of Rs 50 cr for 50 Cong MLAs

SC directs Centre to respond on rehabilitation framework for victims of sex trafficking

Related Articles More

Maharashtra: Jewellers face challenges in business as wedding season clashes with poll season

Maharashtra Elections | CM Shinde using Marathi TV serials for campaigning, Congress alleges

Misuse of social media platforms by terrorists to be borne in mind by courts while sentencing: HC

Forest department creating hurdles in development of Gadchiroli district: Gadkari

Ensure level playing field in campaigning: Congress to EC after Rahul’s chopper delay

MUST WATCH

| ₹50 LAKH SEIZED FROM TIRE |

New Technology In Kambala

Lakshdeepotsava 2024 Shree Krishna Mutt

Punganur Cow

Rangoli design


Latest Additions

Maharashtra: Jewellers face challenges in business as wedding season clashes with poll season

Maharashtra Elections | CM Shinde using Marathi TV serials for campaigning, Congress alleges

Davanagere: Home Guard saves passenger from being crushed under moving train

World Diabetes Day 2024: Kasturba Hospital Manipal Hosts Zumba Session at Malpe Beach to Raise Diabetes Awareness

Suriya-starrer ‘Kanguva’ mints Rs 58.62 crore in worldwide gross on day one

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.