HYDERABAD: Big time football will make a return to Hyderabad when Dempo SC and Home United FC of Singapore clash in an AFC Cup 2008 quarterfinal match at the Gachibowli stadium on Tuesday.
A major portion of the AFC Challenge Cup tournament was played at this venue till heavy rains forced the final to be shifted to Delhi. But India’s fine display in that tournament is still fresh in the minds of football lovers in the twin cities.
Now neither team has had a chance to judge each other’s strengths and weaknesses as was evident from the comments of the coaches on the eve of the match. Speaking to the media, N. Sivaji, head coach of Home United said that he has watched Dempo in action only on television.
Tough match
“But I am aware that Dempo is a good team and it should turn out to be a tough match,” he said.
“We had entered the semifinals of this tournament in 2004 and therefore we would like to emulate that performance once again this year,” he added. He said that his players were in good shape except for two who were on the injured list.
The Singapore coach was aware that the AFC Challenge Cup had been badly affected by rain but hoped that the ground was now in good condition. The Singapore side was earlier known as the Police Football Club but in 1996 it was renamed Home United FC.
Dempo coach Armando Colaco said that all his players including Mahesh Gawli were fighting fit and therefore would have a full strength team at his command. Other well known players in the side include Climax Lawrence, Cliffford Miranda and Ranty Martins Soleye.
Focussed
“We are focussed on this match and want to put up our best performance. This team has given me whatever I demanded from it and I expect the boys to be highly motivated when they take on the Singapore side tomorrow.
“I was happy that some of our boys performed well for the Indian team that won the AFC Challenge Cup. But each match is different and each match is a new challenge — that is how they will look at this contest and that will be their approach,” said the confident sounding Colaco.
It was learnt that five buses packed with Dempo fans will be arriving in Hyderabad to cheer the Goa club in its crucial battle. “It will be just like playing back home in Goa,” commented the coach.
A major portion of the AFC Challenge Cup tournament was played at this venue till heavy rains forced the final to be shifted to Delhi. But India’s fine display in that tournament is still fresh in the minds of football lovers in the twin cities.
Now neither team has had a chance to judge each other’s strengths and weaknesses as was evident from the comments of the coaches on the eve of the match. Speaking to the media, N. Sivaji, head coach of Home United said that he has watched Dempo in action only on television.
Tough match
“But I am aware that Dempo is a good team and it should turn out to be a tough match,” he said.
“We had entered the semifinals of this tournament in 2004 and therefore we would like to emulate that performance once again this year,” he added. He said that his players were in good shape except for two who were on the injured list.
The Singapore coach was aware that the AFC Challenge Cup had been badly affected by rain but hoped that the ground was now in good condition. The Singapore side was earlier known as the Police Football Club but in 1996 it was renamed Home United FC.
Dempo coach Armando Colaco said that all his players including Mahesh Gawli were fighting fit and therefore would have a full strength team at his command. Other well known players in the side include Climax Lawrence, Cliffford Miranda and Ranty Martins Soleye.
Focussed
“We are focussed on this match and want to put up our best performance. This team has given me whatever I demanded from it and I expect the boys to be highly motivated when they take on the Singapore side tomorrow.
“I was happy that some of our boys performed well for the Indian team that won the AFC Challenge Cup. But each match is different and each match is a new challenge — that is how they will look at this contest and that will be their approach,” said the confident sounding Colaco.
It was learnt that five buses packed with Dempo fans will be arriving in Hyderabad to cheer the Goa club in its crucial battle. “It will be just like playing back home in Goa,” commented the coach.
