Mumbai FC hope to get back on winning track
Mumbai, February 3: Mumbai FC can fancy their chances of putting their campaign back on the winning track when take on debutants Minerva Punjab in a seventh round I-League 2016-2017 match to be played at the Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, Punjab on Saturday evening. The match kicks-off at 4.35 pm.
The Mumbai club had started brightly with two fine wins in the opening rounds. But, they were unfortunate to lose the next four games, despite putting up the best efforts. Having slipped to sixth position with six points they stand a great chance to pick up all the three points against the Punjab side who, are playing in this big league for the first time and are sitting at the bottom on the 10-team table with just two points.
However, Mumbai FC Head Coach Santosh Kashyap is not prepared to take the Punjabis lightly. “We are up against a new entrant in this competition. It’s always difficult for any coach to play with some new club as we don’t have much knowledge of their style of play and their strengths. So we have to be cautious,” Kashyap told media persons at the pre-match press briefing.
“We also have to keep in mind that we had lost to them (Minerva Punjab) in the DSK Cup organized by DSK Shivajians in Pune late last year,” he further added.
The Mumbai coach also mentioned that he will have to rework his team formation as he will not have the services of several key players. “My main striker Thoi Singh has taken leave as he has gone home to get married. Victorino Fernandes, who got bumped in the head in the last game is not fit to start. Defender Lalchawnkima is still recovering from a hamstring injury and has not travelled with the team.”
Kashyap will now have to bank on foreign recruits Densill Theobald a midfielder from Trinidad and Tobago and Brazilian Robson Santana (Robinho) to try and deliver the goods and inspire them to victory.
Skipper Steven Dias is expected to play in the starting 11 along with Faruk Choudhary, Hitesh Sharma, Shilton D’Silva and Raegan Singh in the midfield. Pratik Chaudhary, Shallum Pires, Allan Dias and Chinta Rao Chandrashekar will marshall the defence, while goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani will return after serving a one-match suspension.
The Punjab outfit, who drew against Churchill Brothers in the last match at home, would also be keen on playing for their maiden win and the full three points which could lift them out from the bottom of the table.
As Mumbai coach Kashyap signed off he promised that his team would play good, exciting football to entertain the Punjabi football enthusiasts.