GOA: Encouraged by their first win in the Airtel I-League, and that too after ten matches, Churchill Brothers are hoping they can continue to pocket more wins, starting with a difficult clash against Bengaluru FC at the Duler Stadium, Goa, on Friday.
Churchill Brothers got the better of Sporting Clube de Goa 3-2 in an entertaining clash in the previous game and Subhash Bhowmick knows they can continue to end up with full points in many more games.
“I don’t see any reason why we cannot do to Bengaluru FC what we did to Sporting. We have to be patient on the field and the results will show,” said Bhowmick.
Churchill, the defending champions, are currently at the bottom of the pool with seven points from 10 matches.
Against Sporting Clube, Bhowmick adopted a counter-attacking approach but said he will have to rework his strategy playing against Ashley Westwood’s side who are currently on top of the league ladder with 21 points from 11 matches.
“Bengaluru FC is a fantastic side. Where do I start? They have side-backs who join the attack like no other team. They have centre-backs who are stronger than any other team in the competition and in the centre (John) Menyongar is in fine form,” said Bhowmick.
Bhowmick said Bengaluru FC will be tough opponents but he is encouraged by the response from his three new signings, all of whom debuted in the previous game. The new signings include Syrian duo of Yaser Shahen (striker) and Naser Al Sebai (defender), besides Egyptian midfielder Abdelhamid Shabana.
“The foreign trio is good but they need time to settle down. Some have been out of competition for a while but I know that they will be a force to reckon with,” explained Bhowmick, who will have midfielder Micky Fernandes available for Friday’s afternoon clash.
Before they arrived in Goa, Bengaluru FC were known to be tigers at home, unbeaten in seven matches and winning five of them. Their away form has been suspect, until they won the last game against Salgaocar Football Club in Goa.
Bengaluru FC is a compact and disciplined side and it will take something magical from the hosts to deny them another win.
