Churchill Brothers coach worried by lack of match time

Lack of match time is a big worry for Churchill Brothers coach Mykola Shevchenko as he prepares the team for the I-League.

| NOVEMBER 18, 2017, 03:46 AM IST

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MARGAO

The former Churchill and Dempo SC defender declined to reveal his expectation from the team as he still needs time to analyse the players. Moreover, the foreign signings are yet to arrive and whatever squad, the Varca-based club had in training at Ambelim ground, was made up of Indian players.
"This group has been together for five days now since I took charge of the team. So the guys haven't played together and that concerns me," said Shevchenko, talking on the sidelines of the training session. "We are only 80 per cent ready for the I-League. Since we began our preparations just five days back, it will take some more time. The rest will be taken care of, though," the Ukrainian coach said. "The practice matches will help us to find the weak links and make us gel as a team better," he added.
The coach laid emphasis on tactical training and drills along with focus on attacking strategy. "The level of enthusiasm in the camp is very high. I have been impressed with the discipline, the willingness to learn, the willingness to work," Shevchenko stated.
"But in the I-League, things are bound to be different. It's true this will be different. Whatever be the challenge, I want the boys to come up with a solution and clear the hurdle. If the opponent is attacking, how to sit back and hit on the counter or if the opponent is defending how do find a way past the defence. These decisions need to be taken on the go," Shevchenko stressed.
The team will train for a couple of days and Shevchenko hopes that the training camp will enable the team to combine as a unit. Meanwhile, the team's foreign recruits -- five Nigerians and one Singaporean -- are expected to join the team soon but it will take some time for them to settle down.
Churchill Brothers start their I-League campaign with an away match in Shillong against Shillong Lajong on December 4.
Meanwhile, Alfred Fernandes, who was in charge of the team before the arrival of Shevchenko, feels that 2 pm kick-off is not ideal for football and the club has made their objection known to the All India Football Federation.
"When you want quality football, you cannot take harsh decisions like 2 pm kickoff. That timing is not suitable even for a walk in the streets," fumed Alfred.

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