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Real Kashmir FC, now entering their third season in the I-League, lifted the prestigious IFA Shield title earlier this month and according to head coach David Robertson, his team ‘fancies’ its chances of going all the way in the I-League as well.
“It’s been great to end the IFA Shield by winning the competition. There is certainly something magical in that yellow jersey and badge, and the performances show that we are a good side again this year. We have assembled a good squad capable of mounting a challenge for the I-League trophy. We’ve been here for two years and know what it is all about. Each year, we are more and more focused and fancy our chances this time around,” Robertson said at a virtual media interaction on Tuesday, December 22.
He hailed the atmosphere in the team as the ‘best’ and stressed on the importance of starting well in the competition.
“The atmosphere at the club is the best we have had till now. We would want to be challenging for first place and it will depend on getting a good start. You have to make sure you start well to have a serious chance of challenging for the title. This is a league where if you lose a few games, it can be very difficult to claw your way back,” Robertson quipped.
He added, “This year, we have added more experienced players and we have guys in our team who can score goals as well. I always feel that defending is the most important part of the game and you’re halfway there if you defend well. We scored many goals in the IFA Shield run as well and it has been pleasing to see.”
The upcoming I-League 2020-21 season will kick off on January 9, 2021, and will be played in a different format across three stadiums in Kolkata and Kalyani with the formation of a bio-secure bubble. Owing to the pandemic, fans will be absent from the stands but according to Real Kashmir FC’s talismanic midfielder Danish Farooq, his side will want to win the title for their passionate supporters.
“This season will be different for everyone and we are already preparing for life in a bio-bubble. It’s different this time without fans and we will certainly miss them in the stadium. However, we are focused on playing well and give them something to be happy about. We want to win for them,” he said.
“The fans are more and more excited every year and everyone is talking about the title now. We have won the IFA Shield and everyone is happy at home. We need to continue this winning run and want to give our 100% in the I-League.”
“I put a target for myself each year and every player wants to score as much as possible. This season, I want to score more goals, which will be good for me and the team,” he added.
Talking about his team’s preparation, Robertson mentioned the importance of mixing ‘fun’ in training and finding ways of keeping the spirits of the team high.
“With the bonus of playing in the IFA Shield and winning it, the morale is high. We are having double sessions in training and while it is tiring for the players, we are trying to make it as much fun as possible. With (a seven-day) quarantine coming up, we need to keep the spirits of the team as high as possible and find ingenious ways of communicating with the players and keeping them happy and fit,” the Scotsman averred.
Real Kashmir get their I-League 2020-21 campaign underway against Manipuri side TRAU FC at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on January 10, 2021.
