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With the I-League 2020-21 slated to begin on January 9, 2021, all teams are hard at work to prepare for what promises to be a unique and special season. Representing the state of Goa will be former champions Churchill Brothers and a key player for the two-time I-League winners will be winger Vinil Poojary, who scored twice for the Red Machines in the previous campaign.
“The level of competition in the I-League is getting higher and higher every year and like us, every team wants to win the league. We are all counting down the days until the tournament begins and every one of us is waiting eagerly to go out and perform on the field,” Poojary said.
He continued, “It’s been more than a month since we have been sweating it out and grinding ourselves to prove where our team stands. We make sure we give our 100 per cent – whether it’s training or the match.”
It will be a third successive season with Churchill Brothers for Poojary, who made clear his intention of winning matches for his team and hopefully, end the competition with the I-League title.
He said, “I want to prove myself more in the I-League. It feels good to be back here and play for the team. I had given my best last season and now, I want to push the limits further. I want to score more goals than last year. The whole team, from the owners to the staff, is working very hard to win the league and that’s what motivates me to win the title for Churchill Brothers.”
The upcoming campaign will feature a total of 11 teams, who will play in a centralised tournament across three stadiums in Kolkata and Kalyani in West Bengal. It will also see the formation of a COVID-19 bio-bubble as Indian football continues to move forward together.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the I-League but we’ll go step-by-step. So for now, our first step will be playing our first game against Indian Arrows (on January 10) and then proceed further to our next matches from there. I hope that the hard work from each one of us pays off and we hold the top position on the table,” the 23-year-old quipped.
Leading the Red Machines this season will be head coach Santiago Varela, who was with Gokulam Kerala FC last season. Poojary, who is the younger brother of Blue Tigers winger Nikhil Poojary, mentioned that the new head coach has a ‘unique style’ and that under him, the team is ‘gelling’ very well.
“Our head coach Santiago Varela is a great personality. He has a unique style towards the game and everyone is happy to adapt to it. The dedication and hard work my teammates are putting in is something very nice to see,” he said.
“We have got a good set of Indian and foreign players and we gel up really good so that’s a plus point over here. Each one of us is hardworking and dedicated to winning the trophy. I sincerely hope we give our best as a team in the upcoming campaign,” Poojary concluded.
