GOA: Sporting Clube de Goa coach Oscar Bruzon believes his team can be the top team in the country if they can take the chances that come their way.
Sporting Clube are placed fourth at the moment with 18 points from 11 matches. But while that may be good progress for a young and ambitious side, Bruzon knows his team could have achieved much more if the strikers had converted at least half of the chances that the midfielders create.
“We are doing very well in the first two thirds but in the final third, we are found wanting. We must improve, we must show greater maturity in front of goal,” said the Spanish coach.
Sporting Clube next face Dempo Sports Club in a Panaji derby at the Duler Stadium, Goa, on Saturday. It’s a match that can propel them to the first three spot for the first time in the competition and Bruzon has been left in no doubt that his side will be up for the challenge.
“It’s a Panaji derby, so that will make the task all the more tougher, not just for us but Dempo as well. You could say that Dempo are struggling at the moment but you cannot deny they have fine quality. If they get their acts right, they can give anyone a run for their money,” he said.
Sporting Clube dominated the then league leaders Salgaocar Football Club in the previous game, and although they won only by a solitary goal, there was no doubt that the three points were entirely deserving.
Bruzon is now hoping for the same maturity.
“I was really happy with the last game. I felt the players are understanding the gameplan and our model and successfully implementing it during matches. There will be small modifications to counter Dempo but there will be no change in the intensity of our attacks and the focus on ball possession,” explained Bruzon, who completes a year in office at Sporting Clube.
Things have not really worked to a plan at Dempo Sports Club but like Bruzon said, the quality in some of their youngsters, particularly those imported from the now defunct Pailan Arrows, is unquestionable. They are placed eighth with 12 points but a win over their local city rivals will take them to the top half of the league ladder for the first time.
Dempo, though, will have to do without the services of coach Arthur Papas who is currently away in Australia due to personal reasons
