I-LEAGUE Media Team
NEW DELHI: Former East Bengal and Mohun Bagan midfielder Douglas da Silva has said that he is looking forward to seeing a good display from his boys ahead of the U-19 I-League 2014-15 Kolkata derby, to be held on the Friday, December 19, at the East Bengal Club Ground.
The Brazilian is currently the Head Coach of the U-19 Mohun Bagan side that are taking part in the tournament from the Kolkata Zone, and he has mentioned the match will be his first association in the great rivalry as a coach.
“This is my first Kolkata derby as a coach in India, where I spent 12 long years. I had a good experience of the derby when I played for both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, and I didn’t lose any derby as a player,” Douglas said.
“But now I am a coach and the scenario is totally different. The supporter’s expectations will be there, and I hope my boys will perform good. We have to do well in the ground.”
Bagan lost their first match of the tournament against United SC, as the Purple Shirts scored just at the death to bag a 2-1 win at the Kalyani Stadium on December 13.
Meanwhile, Tarun Roy, Head Coach of the U-19 East Bengal side has asserted that riding on a win in the tournament will not matter much, as far as the derby is concerned.
The Junior Red and Golds bagged a 2-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting in their first game of the competition on December 14, and went to the top of the table following the win.
“The Derby is a different match altogether from other matches. The fact that we had won our opening game and Mohun Bagan had lost theirs will have no impact on the said clash. We will have to start afresh,” Roy said.
“The boys are keen and raring to go to win the Derby and the U-19 I-League, which is still in its early stages and has a long way to go. There are no injury problems and we will strive hard to win the home Derby on Friday.”
The match kicks off this Friday @ 2:15 pm (IST).
Other matches in Round 2:
KOLKATA ZONE: Mohammedan Sporting vs United SC – Dec 18 @ 2 pm
GOA ZONE: AIFF Elite Academy vs Dempo SC – Dec 18 @ 3:30 pm; Sporting Clube de Goa vs Sesa Academy – Dec 19 @ 3:45 pm
MAHARASHTRA ZONE: Kenkre SC vs Mumbai FC – Dec 18 @ 3:30 pm; Pune FC vs DSK Shivajians – Dec 19 @ 3:30 pm
