Bhubaneswar: Newly-crowned I-League champions Aizawl FC coach Khalid Jamil is hopeful of a good show in the upcoming Federation Cup football tournament but admitted that it will be tough act to maintain. Jamil who arrived with the team here late Thursday evening, however, assured at the Biju patnaik International Airport (BPIA) that the boys were ready to give it their best shot.
“The expectations are quite high after our magnificent showing in the I-League. The boys have done an excellent job the entire season. But it will be tough maintain that temperament and momentum,” said the former Mumbai FC coach.
Jamil however, clarified that the ‘recovery’ period for the footballers was short because of the short gap between the two premier tournaments of the country.
“The schedule is tight and my boys did not get the proper recovery period. But then as footballers and coach, we have to perform. The boys are a bit tired, but nevertheless I am hopeful of a good show,” asserted the coach.
However, Jamil said that all the players of his team are fit and he is one coach, who is not worried about injury problems. “We are fortunate that every player of our team is fit. They are all available for the tournament. It is a positive sign for us. We have a strong reserve bench also. I hope they will rise to the occasion as they did in the I-League also,” informed the coach.
That football is still in a nascent stage in this part of the world was once more emphasised at the way the players arrived. In any other football-loving city of the country like Kolkata or Margao, the crowd at the airport would certainly have made a beeline for autographs and selfies of Aizawl footballers. Here at the BPIA, however, there were no such scenes. Save for some Football Association of Orissa (FAO) officials who were at the airport to receive the team, the buzz around the players was definitely lukewarm.
Aizawl FC will face Chennai City FC on the inaugural day (May 7) before meeting Churchill Brothers and East Bengal FC May 9 and 11 respectively.
PNN
