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RoundGlass Punjab FC will take on Sreenidi Deccan FC in the fourth match of the I-League 2022-23 season, as the two sides begin their campaign at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula on Monday, November 14.
In the last two fixtures between the two sides, it was Sreenidi Deccan FC, who came away with two victories against RoundGlass Punjab FC last season in Kolkata.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference today, RoundGlass Punjab FC head coach Staikos Vergetis said, “We have had a great two month long pre-season with an exciting group of players. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s game and see where we stand with the preparation we have had. We want to play a brand of football which will excite the fans and inspire the kids in Punjab to take up football.”
Talking about the experience of coaching an Indian team, Staikos added, “I believe the opportunity is the same. Football is football everywhere in the world.”
Slovenian forward Luka Majcen stated that his side is ready to face Sreenidi Deccan FC in the first match. “They have a strong, compact team. We know what we are facing, and we are ready. We can expect an aggressive match. The mood in the dressing room is excited and positive. We had a long pre-season, and we are all glad that we are no longer in bio-bubble.”
Sreenidi Deccan FC head coach Carlos Vaz Pinto revealed in the pre-match Press Conference that his side will be starting the season with a full strength squad.
“We followed a particular methodology where we had maximum routines on injury preventions in the pre-season, and because of that, we now have every player available for selection in our first game. We have had no injuries in the pre-season,” said Pinto.
The Portuguese further went on to laud RoundGlass Punjab FC on the pre-season that they have and surmised that his side has a tough game ahead.
“(RoundGlass) Punjab did really well last season and they had a really good pre-season too, where they have signed some really good players in the transfer window,” he said. “Like all away matches, this one will also be especially difficult, but we are here to compete. I believe in my players, I believe in my team, and I expect a good game from tomorrow because our guys are at a very high level.”
Sreenidi Deccan FC defender Asheer Akhtar feels that the three-month pre-season has put his side in good stead for the upcoming I-League campaign.
“We started our pre-season very early, almost three months back. While new players have joined us in between, it has been a good experience, and the boys have really gelled and bonded well together. We are ready for the challenge,” he said.
The match between RoundGlass Punjab FC and Sreenidi Deccan FC will kick off at 7pm IST on Monday, November 14 at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium and will be broadcast live on Eurosport, Doordarshan Sports, and streamed live on Discovery+ OTT platform.
