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It’s time for the kick-off again – the kick-off of the second phase of the I-League. And on the first day of the second phase, Pailan Arrows will take centrestage against Sporting Clube de Goa. The two meet at the Salt Lake Stadium on Friday.
Pailan would be vying for their first elusive victory while Sporting Clube seem determined to put their League campaign back on track while Pailan stay one of the two teams not to have registered a win in the Tournament so far.
Nevertheless, Technical Director Sukhwinder Singh stays hopeful things will change. “We have utilised the break to see the younger players. We hope to come back stronger,” he said. “We intend to break the jinx.”
Goalkeeping Coach Tanumoy Basu feels U-19 National Players “would be able to make the difference.”
“We have signed quite a few National U-19 players. Creative midfielder Prabir Das can make an impact for sure as does striker Holicharan Narzary and midfielder Shenaj Singh,” Basu informed.
“However, Sehnaj is having a slight niggle and may not start against Sporting,” he informed. “Pranoy Halder will be fit soon. We may not be able to play all against Sporting but would surely try out the other players too – Bikramjit Singh, Arijeet Singh, Sonu Beniwal, Sumit Passi amongst others.”
Striker CS Sabeeth who was part of the National squad for India’s Exhibition Match against Bayern Munich feels, “it’s not long before Pailan start winning.”
“We have been distinctly unlucky not to win some matches. We need to convert whatever comes our way and I intend to hit the target more often,” he maintained.
Singh, however, refused to be drawn into commenting on Sporting Clube. “They are a quality side who know to hit hard. They are a fighting lot and we need to stay alert,” he said.
Sporting Clube were off to a wonderful start of the first leg and had remained unbeaten till the sixth round. But they couldn’t sustain the momentum. The first-round match between the two teams in Goa had ended in a goalless draw.
Sporting Clube stay at the 11th position with 14 points from 13 matches while Pailan Arrows are on 7 points from 12 matches. Pailan’s 13th round match against Churchill Brothers will be played later.
