Cuttack: The stage is warming up for the Federation Cup football tournament featuring the top eight club sides of India. And the plot has suddenly thickened with the rise of Aizawl FC, who as rank outsiders won the I-League title and are now one of the favourites to win the Fed Cup also.
I-League champions Aizawl went through their training session at the Ravenshaw Ground here Friday afternoon to get acclimatised to the heat prevalent at this time of the year. Coach Khalid Jamil kept a close watch on his wards as they went through their physical and with and without the ball drills.
Aizawl players also seemed a confident lot and it got reflected in their body language. They will meet Chennai City FC in the inaugural tie. “We are ready for the tournament and prepared for all challenges ahead,” midfielder Jayesh Rane stated Friday.
Jamil also said that only the title here would satisfy him. “We have a strong outfit and we are aiming for nothing less than the title,” Jamil asserted.
However team custodian Albino Gomes said that all the teams are strong and all have equal chances of ending on a triumphant note. “I don’t think our I-League win will have much impact in the tournament. We have to start from the scratch. However, we will not put undue pressure on ourselves by thinking about the title. We will keep our minds fresh and take it one game at a time,” Gomes said.
Press Trust of India