Kolkata: The two finalists from the Durand Cup earlier this month meet again this time in the I-league in Kolkata. Prayag United SC the home team on this occasion may suffer a setback when it was declared that Yusuf Yakubu might not be able to play the match due to injury. Yakubu at the press meet said that it was unlikely he would be able to play the match as he had not recovered from a recent injury.
On the other hand Churchill Brothers are also weakened with the absence of Beto who is yet to recover from an injury suffered during the Durand Cup while Mohammed Rafi is also out with injury.
Sanjoy Sen head coach of Prayag United said that he would wait till right before the match on taking a call on Yakubu's injury leaving the decision to the player. He also added "Churchill Brothers are better than McDowells Mohun Bagan and Kingfisher East Bengal at the moment, they already have six points from two matches so we know we are up against a very strong opposition"
Manuel Gomes head coach of Churchill Brothers said "We have seen Prayag United play in the Durand Cup and we know them well now. We can say who is a better team between them and Kingfisher East Bengal but recent results should speak for themselves."
When Prayag coach Sanjoy Sen was asked about Beto he said "Beto is one of the best foreigners playing in India but even in the Durand Cup finals they played without him. Churchill Brothers have a strong squad so they will be a tough opposition.”
Pune FC vs Chirag United Kerala : Unbeaten after their first two league games, Pune FC will take on a talented Chirag United Kerala in their third I-league game at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on Tuesday evening.
The two teams were locked in a eight-goal thriller at the same venue last season, and the home fans would be keen to see something similar on Tuesday, after the thrilling 2-2 draw in their second round on Friday.
The one positive for Pune FC will be to build upon when they take on Chirag United Kerala in an I-League Round-3 is the confidence earned from the comeback made in the last round.
With winning their first game now a priority for the home side, Tuesday evening game at the Balewadi Sports Complex turns out to be a meeting between two sides who have eternally engaged in drama end-results.
While results indicate the fast catching up by the opponents, Pune FC Coach Derrick Perreira opines, "Going by the Indian standards several teams have shown a marked improvement."
In saying so, Derrick admits that his rival team is a good side with a good crop of youngsters as well as experienced players in skipper Krishnan Ajayan, goalkeeper K Sharat, defenders Charles Dzisah, Isaac Boakeye. "They (CUK) put up a good fight in their last match (v Bagan), played pressing football, which leaves us to simply put our best foot forward in winning three points."
Pune FC (2 points) after two draws are on 10th position, a position that needs major improvement. "We need to up the tempo. The players are boosted after the determined 30-minute second half fight they staged against Sporting Goa and I am expecting a better show," explained the Pune FC coach.
On Pune FC’s run so far, the coach said, "going by the situations we were in where any first match is all about settling down then the fight when in 0-2 in arrears the point earned from both is better than nothing."
Chirag Kerala who occupy sixth place position on the table with three points also boast of having four ex-PFC in Ajayan, G Vignesh, Gurjinder Singh and Manoj TM. Interestingly, Pune FC have three players from the opponents – custodian Shahinlal Meloly, Karma Tsewang and Othallo Tabia.
Adding to the list of interesting on-field battles is the fact that Ajayan in a matter of nine months will be out on a pitch leading both sides! Last year the medio was PFC skipper in the 4-4 drawn game and on Tuesday he would wear the captain’s arm band for Kerala.
With major overhauls in either side since last season, both sides have players who will be out to prove themselves a point with Shahinlal one among the many, which in a way makes the game as interesting as it can.
Pune FC has no added injuries to worry about, but coach Derrick maintained a distance about the squad composition. "All I will say is that we have good youngsters who need to get a look in and I don’t want to particularly name any," explained Derrick.
For Pune FC the match will be the third home game, while for CUK it is their third away tie.