PUNE, Dec 15 : Mumbai FC and United Sikkim FC have fiercely passionate coaches, but Khalid Jamil will be looking to get better of the visitors, who have landed here without their talismanic player-motivator Bhaichug Bhutia for the Round XI match of the I-League football championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium, here, on Saturday.
Bhutia becomes the most notable absentee in the United Sikkim line-up as he wants to be with his family after he lost his father earlier this month. It is another matter that Bhutia mainly stays on the bench and controls the match, but given the circumstances he sometimes does play more to give his fans a chance to see him in full flow.
With Bhutia making himself unavailable, there is a new face in the Sikkim camp—a 27-year-old Australian Nathan Hall, who has taken charge as their full time coach.
“I am confident about this project and have a lot to share with this team and my experience in Asian football will come in handy,” said Hall, who is the youngest ever manager in the I-league.
Hall has his task cut out as his team are currently sitting in 12th position and Bhutia whose birthday coincidentally falls on this match day will hope that the new coach inculcates a habit of winning among the squad after four straight draws.
“I share a great equation with Baichung and have all his backing to manage and run the club the way I envision it,” said the Australian, who has been into coaching since he was 18.
Meanwhile, home side Mumbai FC will be hoping to get their act together after getting comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Air India and Khalid Jamil will look to rally his troops ahead of the tricky fixture.
Since taking over, Jamil has been impressive so far with the exception of the drubbing at the hands of Air India and will look to get back to winning ways.
They had an impeccable five-match record before the last round clash against Air India, but that drubbing was more to do with complacency than the caliber of the team. Air India had been at the receiving end and Khalid Jamil’s men let them go loose much to their surprise.
The duo of Yusif Yakubu and Gabriel Fernandes have been impressive for Mumbai, but the latter would be missing for Saturday’s tie after he picked up his second yellow card while playing against Air India.
Yakubu will now have to pair up with ND Opara and Abhishek Yadav, a combination that Khalid hasn’t tried in the recent past.
Skipper Haroon Fakhruddin Amiri and Evans Quao have been the stellar support for the team with Quao being more enterprising moving up and down and covering enough ground to keep the opposition on toes.
United Sikkim, on the other hand, have drawn last four matches after having lost to Sporting Clube de Goa on November 18.
The striking pair of Nurudeen Salau, Budhiram Tudu and Nima Tamang will be under watch given that they have done well last month in holding Pune FC first and then Air India, a 2-2 and 3-3 draws, respectively.
It will surely be a clash between unequal teams, but given the nature of the game, one small lethargic moment can turn the match around.
The kick-off is at 7.00pm.
Bhutia becomes the most notable absentee in the United Sikkim line-up as he wants to be with his family after he lost his father earlier this month. It is another matter that Bhutia mainly stays on the bench and controls the match, but given the circumstances he sometimes does play more to give his fans a chance to see him in full flow.
With Bhutia making himself unavailable, there is a new face in the Sikkim camp—a 27-year-old Australian Nathan Hall, who has taken charge as their full time coach.
“I am confident about this project and have a lot to share with this team and my experience in Asian football will come in handy,” said Hall, who is the youngest ever manager in the I-league.
Hall has his task cut out as his team are currently sitting in 12th position and Bhutia whose birthday coincidentally falls on this match day will hope that the new coach inculcates a habit of winning among the squad after four straight draws.
“I share a great equation with Baichung and have all his backing to manage and run the club the way I envision it,” said the Australian, who has been into coaching since he was 18.
Meanwhile, home side Mumbai FC will be hoping to get their act together after getting comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Air India and Khalid Jamil will look to rally his troops ahead of the tricky fixture.
Since taking over, Jamil has been impressive so far with the exception of the drubbing at the hands of Air India and will look to get back to winning ways.
They had an impeccable five-match record before the last round clash against Air India, but that drubbing was more to do with complacency than the caliber of the team. Air India had been at the receiving end and Khalid Jamil’s men let them go loose much to their surprise.
The duo of Yusif Yakubu and Gabriel Fernandes have been impressive for Mumbai, but the latter would be missing for Saturday’s tie after he picked up his second yellow card while playing against Air India.
Yakubu will now have to pair up with ND Opara and Abhishek Yadav, a combination that Khalid hasn’t tried in the recent past.
Skipper Haroon Fakhruddin Amiri and Evans Quao have been the stellar support for the team with Quao being more enterprising moving up and down and covering enough ground to keep the opposition on toes.
United Sikkim, on the other hand, have drawn last four matches after having lost to Sporting Clube de Goa on November 18.
The striking pair of Nurudeen Salau, Budhiram Tudu and Nima Tamang will be under watch given that they have done well last month in holding Pune FC first and then Air India, a 2-2 and 3-3 draws, respectively.
It will surely be a clash between unequal teams, but given the nature of the game, one small lethargic moment can turn the match around.
The kick-off is at 7.00pm.
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