DSK Shivajians Football Club will look to register their first victory in the Hero I-League when they play Aizawl FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Friday.
DSK Shivajians began their Hero I-League campaign with a 0-0 draw against Sporting Club de Goa in Goa. Meanwhile, Aizawl FC are yet to gain a point this season after two back-to-back losses. Shivajians head coach Derrick Pereira said in a release,
“We have taken quite a few positives from our first match and we are eager to improve on our performance when we play Aizawl FC. The players have a positive attitude and are motivated. They have had a good couple of days of training here in Aizawl. We will be putting even more efforts in our game than we did for the opener and hopefully, that will result in an even better performance. We will be looking to attack more in tomorrow’s match and try to convert as many chances as possible. Aizawl FC will provide a strong challenge and they will be determined to win. They have a good squad, filled with hard working and skilled players, who have put in good performances in the last two matches. However, we have prepared well and are ready for the challenge that Aizawl FC brings to the table.”
Aizawl FC, who have lost both their first two matches, are still nothing to be trifled with as there were periods when they controlled the game and put strong teams like Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC under pressure. Shivajians, in comparison, have not been tested against such robust and attacking teams.
The home team, which received immense support from fans in its debut game, is ready to shift gear to go for the win, their coach Manuel Retamero Fraile has told TFG,
"I feel this is the right path for us to follow as a unit and the players agree. I think we played some top level football, actually... I want all 6 points from the next to matches. That's what we'll go for."
The match is expected to draw huge crowds to the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium again despite being held at 2 pm on a Friday, and the Ten Sports Network deciding not to show this match, though the game has a lot of significance in the league.