I-LEAGUE Media Team
GOA: Salgaocar Football Club coach Derrick Pereira has called for more then hundred percent effort from his team to get a positive result against East Bengal in the Hero I-League Round 5 match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Saturday.
Salgaocar FC grabbed their first win against Sporting Clube de Goa in the last match and are now looking forward to continuing with their winning ways in the tournament after previously scripting two draws and a shock loss against Royal Wahingdoh.
“It’s been a mixed bag so far but against East Bengal there is no doubt that we will need to come up with more than a hundred percent to take something positive. It’s a difficult match and we have to be at our best,” said Pereira.
Pereira will be happy to welcome back Scottish striker Darryl Duffy who has regained full fitness from a hamstring injury. He played only a couple of minutes in the last game but is now available to start.
“Duffy’s return gives us some options. He combines well with Douhou (Pierre) and the other players so that’s an advantage for us. We need to take the chances,” said the Salgaocar coach.
Midfielder Saran Singh continues to be on the injured list while it is more than likely that striker Dawson Fernandes is out of the season.
East Bengal also have injury problems of their own and arrived in Goa without defender Arnab Mondal and midfielder Mehtab Hossain.
East Bengal’s last visit to Goa fetched them a point against Sporting Clube de Goa but coach Armando Colaco will be hoping to take more than that home as Nigerian striker Dudu Omagbemi returns to the lineup.
“The team is getting into the groove and now we feel we are ready. The team will go all out for a win to snatch full points,” assistant coach Sujit Chakraborty said during the pre-match conference.
Coach Armando Colaco has been unwell and deputised Chakraborty for the pre-match duties. He, however, will be available for East Bengal’s second away game of the competition.
East Bengal have seven points in their kitty from three matches and are unbeaten so far.
KO: 4:30 pm IST (Ten Action)
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