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If you google ‘Paradise on Earth’, chances are that the first search page will be dominated by the word Kashmir. It is in this ‘paradise’ that Goa’s Churchill Brothers find themselves in and having to play competitive top flight football against local side Real Kashmir FC on Tuesday, November 6.
The 13th game of the I-League will see India’s top flight football league make a historic debut in the Kashmir valley as the game kicks off at Srinagar’s TRC turf ground at 2pm.
Real Kashmir FC have had a dream debut in the I-League having won their opening game against defending champions Minerva Punjab FC, helped on by a strike from Ivorian striker Gnohere Krizo. Incidentally, this was the first occasion in the history of I-League when a debutant overwhelmed the defending champions.
Churchill Brothers, on the other hand, have done well to remain unbeaten in their two games, played at two different corners of the country and both away from home. They drew goalless against Minerva Punjab FC and then had a fighting 2-2 draw against table toppers Chennai City FC, which should give them much confidence going into Tuesday’s game at TRC’s synthetic turf.
David Robertson, Real Kashmir FC’s Scottish coach will know that his side will have to improve a lot from their display against Minerva Punjab FC to make full use of the home advantage against Churchill Brothers.
He was quite aware of the occasion in the pre-match press conference when he said, “It’s going to be another day in history as we are playing our first home match. My team is excited as well as focused.” Commenting on the conditions as the valley witnessed the season’s first snowfall a couple of days back, coach Robertson opined, “It will be difficult for both the teams because of the weather conditions. Like Churchill Brothers, we also have players from all over the country.”
The hosts look to be solid in defence with their Nigerian captain Loveday Enyinnaya, coach’s son Mason Robertson, Zambian Aaron Katebe and Dharmaraj Ravanan bringing in a lot of composure and experience. Krizo is also a constant threat inside the opponents’ penalty box with his height but will need good support at some stage.
Coach Robertson has still not fielded the likes of Nadong Bhutia and Ritwik Kumar Das upfront. The duo had scored eight goals between them in their successful second division campaign last year and the Scotsman might look to get them in at some stage to support Krizo.
Churchill Brothers’ Romanian coach Petre Gigiu sounded pragmatic in the pre-match presser commenting, “It’s a difficult game for sure. My team is tired but we will try to play good tomorrow. It will be my first game in Kashmir and we want to play better football for our spectators and Indian football.”
Alluding to the conditions he said, “It’s not a surprise for me because I have coached in such weather conditions before in Nigeria. It’s going to be fun for the team. Let’s hope for the best for us and our opponents.”
Churchill Brothers seem to be settling down as a squad under the new coach as they played better in their second game than they did in their first. Gambian Dawda Cessay is the bulwark of the side in central midfield and showed glimpses of what he can do against Chennai City FC in the last game. Clencio Pinto who came on as a substitute also gave a lot of attacking impetus to the Goan side and coach Gigiu might look to give him a start.
Libyan Hussein Eldor and Serbian Nenad Novakovic have also been putting in good solid shifts at the heart of the Churchill Brothers defence and so has keeper James Kithan. However, strike man Willis Plaza from Trinidad & Tobago will have to get on the scoresheet sooner rather than later.
Real Kashmir FC coach also hoped for great home support acting as a key ally when he signed off saying, “I hope a lot of people from Kashmir show up for the match.”
