Vasco: Salgaocar FC will need to show more commitment and discipline when they take on East Bengal in a 10th round I-League clash at the Tilak Maidan on Tuesday.
The players need to show they value the Green jersey and the club that pays them their salary. They need to show they are value for money. A coach can only show them the way, put them through the grind, repeat the drills, be it set pieces or attacking strategies. But on the field of play, it is the players that need to show heart and soul. It is time they stand up and make themselves be counted. It is the pride of Goan football that is at stake.
Coach Santosh Kashyap has gone in for a drastic change. There will be no Seityasen Singh, Gurjinder Kumar in the starting lineup. There will also be no Gilbert Oliveira who is serving a one-match suspension after receiving a red card in the last match.
"I've asked them to be more disciplined and show more commitment. I have made quite a few changes in the starting lineup. Brian Mascarenhas, Nicolau Colaco and Rosario Mendes come in. So also Saran Singh," said Kashyap.
"We have worked even harder this time on our shortcomings and are geared up for this big match. I have spoken to the boys and made them realize the importance of this match. It is important we win this match," added Kashyap.
However, key players, Brazilian Eder Monteiro, Keenan Almeida and Augustine Fernandes need to play more responsibly while Jackichand Singh needs to release the ball in time instead of holding on to it needlessly. Striker Darryl Duffy will need to be more than just sharp up front. He is destructive if he is harnessed at the right time and have some of the pressure taken off him.
Four points behind league leaders Mohun Bagan, East Bengal with 17 points, will be looking to narrow down the gap. On paper and form, they are the far better side and with Ranti Martins and Bikash Jairu in fine form, the Salgaocar defence will have to be on high alert. A little slip-up and the match will be in East Bengal's pocket. They also have Bernard Mendy to deal with though he is yet to come into his own.
"The Salgaocar team that played against us in Kolkata is very good and one of the toughest in the league. Even though they are fighting relegation, they are still a very dangerous side," pointed out East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya.
Talking about the ground, Bhattacharya said, "The ground may be small, but good players can deliver on any ground."
Skipper Arnab Mondal gave Salgaocar a lot of respect and said they are tough to play in Goa. He also said that there was no special plan drawn up to tackle Darryl Duffy as they had a very competitive defence and will concentrate on only playing their game.
