Bhubaneswar: Indian Super League (ISL) newbies Odisha FC coach Joseph Gambau expressed satisfaction Tuesday with the infrastructure and training facilities at his disposal. However, he also gave few suggestions regarding the practice ground on his two-day visit here. He will Wednesday fly out to Doha to join his players.
Spanish coach Joseph Gambau who was the coach of Delhi Dynamos last year, before the franchise shifted its base along with a change of name landed here Monday morning to inspect the facilities and the training areas which will their new home until March-April next year.
“I have never seen the city so closely before. It’s really good in comparison to many cities in India. In my two days here in the city, I gave few suggestion in regards to the practice ground and I am hopeful in two weeks time the state government will make the changes,” Gambau said during a press conference at the Kalinga Stadium.
Asked about team combination, the former coach of Barcelona youth team said they have a good blend of youngsters along with some brilliant foreign players.
“We have a young group who are always willing to learn. There are two local boys in Subham Sarangi and a 17-year-old goalkeeper Ankit Bhuyan. We have also retained goalkeeper Francisco Dorronsoro and Marcos Tebar,” informed Joseph Gambau.
“Apart from Dorronsoro and Tebar we have also signed Carlos Delgado (defender), Diawandou Diagne (midfielder), Xisco Hernández (midfielder), Aridane Santana (striker) and Martin Perez Guedes (midfielder),” added the coach.
The players who are currently in Doha for pre-season training were also seen having a good time with former Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez in social media.
When asked what was Xavi’s advice to the players? Gambau said, “It was nice that Xavi Fernandez was with us. We played a friendly game against Al Sadd U-23 team which he manages. The players were excited to have him around, especially Vinit Rai who calls him as his idol. He also spoke with the players and posed for a few pictures.”
The players are expected in the city first week of October. They will train till October 19, before flying out to Jamshedpur to play their maiden ISL encounter. Odisha FC play their first home game November 24 against ATK.
PNN