I-League: Self-assured Bharat FC positive on eve of inaugural Pune derby

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Pune FC will face newcomers Bharat FC in the inaugural Pune derby clash

A quietly confident Bharat FC will face city-rivals Pune FC in the first ever Pune derby on Saturday evening. The clash between the cross-town rivals will kick-off at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge-Balewadi at 7 pm and will be telecast live on Ten Action.

The Pune derby will be the first time ever that Bharat FC will face off against Pune FC at any level. The Hero I-League round 14 clash has much at stake with both coaches placing immense stress on the importance of taking home a positive result from this much-hyped clash.

Bharat FC are currently on eighth position in the Hero I-League with ten points from their nine games. Pune FC on the other hand have recently suffered a slump in form, having picked up six points from their last five games and sit at fourth place with 16 points from 10 games. Bharat FC on the other hand have a slight edge in terms of numbers, having accumulated eight points from their last five games.

Bharat FC played out a tough 0-0 draw under testing conditions in Goa last week and head coach Stuart Watkiss was confident that his side would soon find its scoring touch, making light of the two back-to-back draws that his side have endured. “There have been a lot of positives from our last two games. We are very confident of our defense and its ability to withstand pressure. We are getting hard to beat and that is a very good thing. We are not scoring as much as we would like but chances are being created, openings are being found and that means we are moving in the right direction,” he said.

Bharat FC welcome back midfield talisman Bobby Hassell who returns to the match-day squad after serving a one-match suspension. Lanky Palestinian center-back Omar Jarun is expected to be handed his first ever start in the Hero I-League. Watkiss has a full-strength match-day squad to choose from and said that he was faced with what he termed a ‘nice’ selection headache. “Training has been really lively over the past week. I can see a lot more energy and intensity amongst the bunch and that is great during the buildup to such an important clash. Everyone is fit, available for selection and I will have quite a tough time selecting my 18 men,” he said.

Pune FC will be missing out on the services of utility player Ishfaq Ahmed due to injury while India international midfielder Arata Izumi is suspended for the clash after picking up four yellow cards.

Bharat FC’s head coach Stuart Watkiss said that he did not consider his team as the underdogs going into what would be a pivotal fixture in the context of Bharat FC’s debut season. “This is going to be one grand football match and everyone is eagerly looking forward to it. The first ever Pune derby carries a lot of weight and we will be putting all that we have on the pitch. A positive result will set us up very nicely in the second half of the season,” he said.

Bharat FC’s captain, Gouramangi Singh, said that he would be speaking to the team about rising to the occasion but not getting overawed. “The derby is a high-profile clash and we want to give our best. Everyone on the pitch wants those three points but it is important to keep our heads, do the simple things correctly and focus on the task at hand,” said the captain.

Pune FC’s head coach Karim Bencherifa said that as a coach he could not afford to get too excited by the occasion and make a raft of changes. “We must not forget what is at stake - much needed three points, to put us in a good position in the table. We have to play good football and have a good game. Also off the field each team is trying to garner in the support and get their fans to root for them and I think it important to note that there is a real buzz around this derby,” he said.