Pune: Pune FC has a tough task ahead of them if they want to qualify for the semifinals of the 116th IFA Shield. They will take on Ar-Hima FC in a must-win game. Having drawn the Group-C opener against Pailan Arrows (1-1) leaves Pune FC with not just a victory to achieve but a huge margin also turns out to be important. This because Arrows and Ar-Hima FC lock horns in the last group match, which makes it important if Pune FC achieve success at the Howrah Stadium on the morrow.
Coach Derrick Pereira is blunt and offers, “The team is unknown and honestly do not know what to expect.”
Interestingly, the only player that the Pune FC coach identifies from the Ar-Hima FC line-up is Bhola Prasad who played for Mahindra United, apart from knowing that the side has a foreign striker and defender.
While this first of its kind encounter puts the onus on Pune FC, their opponents from Meghalaya have this year finishing third in their group in the in the Second Division I-League preliminary stage.
With their task cut out, Pune FC’s opener against Arrows was not at all satisfactory to the coach who called the performance “rusty.” “Our decision making upfront was bad despite creating the one-odd chance,” the coach explained. “We should have done better overall.”
Aware that a win is the only result needed, the coach felt that the wider and better Howrah Stadium should help the players better than the previous game at East Bengal ground, which was bumpy, smaller and bottled up movement.
“There’s nothing to take away from the player’s effort in this type of a situation,” the coach went on.
Pune FC’s Sunday performance is likely to have an impact on the team composition the availability of Lester Fernandez may have the central midfielder line up to work the feed line better.
“There will be changes for sure,” added the Pune FC coach after their pre-match practice session.
Among the many possibilities that can be seen is Arata Izumi moving up to assist striker Mandjou Keita and perhaps Maninder Singh moving into Shanmugam Venkatesh’s place in the left midfield position.
Faced with a do or die situation for further progress, Pune FC coach says, “We have a job on hand and I am sure even they as professionals know what is expected of them. Our job is to go out at give the match our best shot.”
By Indian Sports News
