Kozhikode: The 11th edition of the I-League is about to get all the more intensed when two debutants Gokulam and Neroca FC face each other at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode on Saturday. Playing their second consecutive match at home the Kerala based club is however cornered with injuries to their experienced bunch of foreign recruits and may have to field an additional Indian player in the line-up.
“Out of five foreigners, four will play. Kamo Bayi’s situation is problematic since he has an issue with his ankle. We will only get an update by tonight. Chigozie will not play,” confirmed head coach Bini George in the pre-match press conference.
Injuries however cannot deter their confidence believes George. “Three points are a must from this match. The players are confident and they have assured that they would grab all the points,” added the Gokulam gaffer whose team are yet to win a match having lost the opener while they drew the second against Chennai City.
Their opponents in Saturday Neroca much like them lost their opening match against Minerva, but coach George refused to look down on them. “I watched their opening match and though they lost, they played really well. They are a well-prepared side. I think it would be a good match,” he said.
Gift Raikhan, coach of Neroca FC however considers it to be a clash of different styles.
“We play in a different style. We have not clinched any points so far and the match is a crucial one for us. Every point is counted. Our side is a good one and we have worked on our mistakes from the first match. This would be a good encounter,” he said she’d of the match.
With a strong squad at hand having retained most players from the previous second-division I-League winning campaign and led by the forms Indian international Gouramangi Singh in defence and Felix Chidi in attack, Raikhan expects his boys to start winning matches.
“This is the first time we are in the I-League and this is a big moment for club and players. So hopefully we will open our account tomorrow,” he added.