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It is not every day that you see a clash between clubs of the northernmost and southernmost states in top-flight Indian football. Real Kashmir FC will take on Gokulam Kerala FC at Kozhikode’s EMS Corporation stadium on Saturday, December 15.
Scheduled to kick off at 5pm IST it which promises to be fascinating given the emotions involved with the two clubs, belonging to two diametrically different regions of the country, united by a fanaticism for the beautiful game.
Real Kashmir FC have had a wonderful 12th I-League campaign till now finding themselves in third place on the charts with 13 points from seven games, with four wins to their credit. Gokulam Kerala FC have collected nine from the same number of games but have had some wonderful days in office, displaying potential and some precocious talent.
What has differentiated the two teams till now has been Real Kashmir FC’s compact and near impregnable defence, led by experienced Nigerian Loveday Okechukwu and Scotsman Mason Robertson. There can be no bigger proof of this than the fact that while Gokulam Kerala FC have let in 10 till now, Real Kashmir FC have only conceded a miserly four, making it the league’s best defence.
Their Scottish coach David Robertson has acquired Abednedo Kofi Tetteh lately which has further bolstered their attack, the Ghanaian striker accounting for two goals in his first full game last week.
Robertson sounded cautious in the pre-game chat expressing concern on the time between their last game and this one, the long travel involved and the fact that they were playing away after a while saying, “We didn’t have much time before this match for preparation as we had to travel from Srinagar after the Lajong match. We are looking forward to the first match away after a long home-leg. It’s only our second away fixture, so definitely, that’s going to be a tough one.”
Gokulam Kerala FC, on the other hand, have had some recent reverses and the sudden loss of a key player must have also contributed. However, coach Bino George is an experienced hand in Indian football and will look to sufficiently enthuse his side, given a golden chance of notching up a victory at home.
His comments on match day eve exposed the importance of the game for Gokulam Kerala FC. “For us, it is a do-or-die battle. We have to win it. It is a challenge. I have already told about this to my players,” he said, sounding determined. “We have tried a new player on loan but we have not decided whether he will play or not,” he concluded.
