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Imphal city is going to witness another pulsating I-League match between Kolkata powerhouse East Bengal and NEROCA FC at the Khuman Lampak Stadium, Imphal tomorrow, December 30.
It’s going to be NEROCA FC’s second home match following their win over Chennai City FC on December 15. While the Red & Golds are approaching the game with 13 points from six matches, the hosts NEROCA FC are three points shy having played one match less.
Both teams are coming to this tie at the back of crucial wins away from their home and they won’t let this opportunity go to finish 2017 on a winning note. NEROCA overcame Northeastern rival Shillong Lajong FC 1-0 while East Bengal won through a wonder strike from Mohammed Rafique against Gokulam Kerala FC.
NEROCA FC head coach Gift Raikhan said at the pre-match press conference that he has already done with the strategy of tomorrow’s match and now it’s time to implement them on the pitch.
He said, “East Bengal is a very good team but NEROCA FC is not less, it is completely our credit that we had drawn with Mohun Bagan and it gives us more confident to meet East Bengal tomorrow.”
He further said, “Tomorrow’s match will be very difficult, and also will be a very entertaining match, the home crowd will witness one of the best I-league matches tomorrow, the team will play like do or die for the sake of the people of Manipur.”
On the other hand, East Bengal coach Khalid Jamil mentioned that NEROCA FC is also one of the good sides of the league but the table-toppers will do their best as the team and they’ll approach the game as a do or die one.
He stated, “We don’t think much about our previous matches, we don’t want to recall what happened in our last game. Our sole focus is nothing but tomorrow’s Neroca FC match.”
“This match is very crucial, NEROCA FC are also in very good form. Their foreign players are playing some really good football, but we have our own strategy in place to overcome NEROCA FC.”
The match is scheduled for kick-off at 2pm and it’ll be telecast live on Star Sports 2, 2 HD and streamed live on Hotstar, Jio TV.
