With one win out of four matches in the early stages of the Hero I-League, the Indian Arrows currently sit bottom in the league table.
However, there are a lot of positives for the Arrows to take from their first few matches. Despite losing 0-2 to Real Kashmir FC in the last fixture, they have given an indication of what the team might actually evolve into once those early blues are brushed off.
Rahul KP, who with his scintillating runs always keeps the rival defence busy says the Hero I-League is a “huge challenge” for them.
“It is extremely challenging to play in the Hero I-League. All the participating teams are some of the best teams in the country. Each team has the ability to stun the other,” he said.
“It is a highly unpredictable league and you have to adjust to the tactics of some teams who can switch from a direct style of play to a more possession-based style of play, almost at will.”
Although the Arrows had won 1-0 against Shillong Lajong FC, they have been guilty of missing chances in front of the rival goalmouth consistently – an aspect which Boris Singh admits is teaching them a valuable lesson.
“We cannot afford to be complacent. Be it in attack or in defence, one mistake can literally make the difference between winning and losing in the Hero I-League,” Boris said.
“Going back to our last match against Real Kashmir, we were mentally prepared for the challenge. But sometimes things don’t go your way and it was one of those days where our luck did not favour us,” Boris lamented.
“We knew that they were getting tired and we just had to keep on putting more balls in and create more opportunities. But despite all, we could not find the back of the net muffing up some simple goal scoring chances,” Rahul felt.
Nevertheless, with the Hero I-League still in its early stages, Boris is confident that good things are on their way. “We are really optimistic about our chances. We know we can stun some of the big names in Indian football. The best part is we are growing and evolving into better players as the league is picking the pace,” he stated.
Both Rahul and Boris feel blessed for the platform and exposure that the Hero I-League has given them after the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017.
“The Hero I-League is a huge platform for us to showcase our skills. We have tried to make the most out of it. Each and every match for us is an opportunity waiting to reveal itself. We always play to win,” Boris pronounced.
Rahul, meanwhile, credited Hero I-League for making him a better player. “Through the Hero I-League, we have evolved into more mature players, clashing against better and more physical opponents in the league. All of that are big lessons in our evolvement into better players.”
