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There is plenty of optimism in the Churchill Brothers camp ahead of the second half of their Airtel I-League campaign as the Red Machines picked up their first silverware of the season last month in the form of the club’s maiden Federation Cup title.
That success has certainly surprised the entire Indian football fraternity as in the I-League Churchill Brothers are rock bottom after 13 games with just two wins all season. But coach Mariano Dias is now hoping that the Cup success will inspire the team and see them climb up the table.
“To be honest no one gave us a chance of winning this tournament. We just approached one game at a time and every win inspired us. It was a total team effort and let’s not forget that we won the tournament despite playing with only two foreigners. So I am confident that in the second half of the I-League campaign we will perform much better and improve our position,” Dias told Sportskeeda.
Besides the remaining 11 games in the I-League, Churchill Brothers also have six AFC Cup group stage fixtures to look forward to in what will be the club’s second straight appearance in Asia’s Europa League. Dias admitted that playing in an Asian competition is always a matter of pride for the club, players and him personally but notified that the I-League relegation battle remains their priority.
“It is always an honour playing in the AFC Cup but we will give more importance to the I-League because quite simply we have to perform better in the I-League and move up the table,” Dias opined.
Churchill Brothers are in Group E of the AFC Cup alongside Persipura Jayapura (Indonesia), Home United (Singapore) and New Radiant (Maldives), and Dias’ comments suggests that for the second straight season, the Goan club will put all their energies on the I-League. Last year they had sacrificed their AFC Cup campaign for a title challenge but this time it’s for the survival in the I-League so it’s quite understandable.
Maybe the availability of newly-signed Costa Rican striker Cristian Lagos will give another dimension to their attack which was in full flow during the Federation Cup with the trio of Abedlhamid Shabana, Anthony Wolfe and Balwant Singh being in great form.
The two-time Indian champions are also looking to add an Asian central defender but Dias made it clear that Lagos will have to prove himself to become a regular in the team.
“We had some very good individual performers in the Federation Cup. Wolfe and Shabana have proved themselves already while Balwant has been playing well throughout the season. We will get stronger with the addition of Lagos but he will have to fight for his place and that can only be a good thing for our team,” he concluded.
Churchill Brothers resume their I-League campaign with a home game against Rangdajied United in a potential relegation six-pointer on February 11.
