PANAJI
Churchill Brothers SC, the lone team representing the State in the ongoing I-League, have had a reasonably good season on their return to the top-flight of Indian football. They will finish a respectable sixth in the league, irrespective of the result in their final fixture against Bengaluru FC on Saturday.
So the away match at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru will be effectively a practice tie for Derrick Pereira’s men ahead of the Federation Cup. Bengaluru, on the other hand, can’t finish any higher than the fourth spot, a disappointing showing by last season’s champions.
In contrast, Churchill’s feat is laudable as they were languishing at the bottom for most of the first half of the season. Midway into the season, the Red Machines were staring at relegation after securing only one win from their first 10 matches. That was until Pereira stepped in and fashioned an almost fairytale turnaround. The experienced coach took over from Alfred Fernandes and immediately arrested the freefall of the Varca-based outfit. Under Pereira, a different Churchill showed up, winning four matches and drawing two to avoid the drop and also secure the bonus of a Federation Cup spot.
After bringing Churchill out of the woods, Pereira is now intent on getting a good showing from the Reds before he joins his new club FC Goa, where he has signed up as Head of Youth Development and assistant coach ahead of the next Indian Super League season.
“Although we have nothing to play for, we are looking ahead at the Federation Cup. I am trying to end up with a good result in the (last match of the) league,” the seasoned gaffer stated. “With our position assured at sixth place, it gives us an opportunity to test players who have not had much game time due to injury or otherwise thus giving them the required playing time,” he added.
“Players like Anthony D’Souza (striker), Gabriel Fernandes and Kingslee Fernandes (both midfielders) will get a look-in against BFC as we prepare for the Federation Cup,” Pereira revealed.
Making an observation on the performance of the team since he took over the reins, Pereira stated: “They (players) responded well. They had the quality and they began to start believing in themselves. They stuck together in times, good and bad which is a sign of a good team. They displayed the right attitude.”
Churchill come into the match after their biggest win in the league -- a 6-1 drubbing of Chennai City, and would want to repeat their performance against Bengaluru, whom they stunned in the home leg. “In our previous three games, we were under pressure and we were in a relegation fight with Mumbai. We have achieved our goal (avoiding relegation), which was the task given to me. The players will play without any pressure and enjoy their season-ending match,” Pereira said.
Although it is a dead rubber, there is a lot to gain for Albert Roca’s Bengaluru as they tune up for the AFC Cup away clash against Abhahani Dhaka which will be played next Wednesday. Like Pereira, Roca might throw in some recently untested players into action.
*Match live on Ten 2, 7 pm
