Punjab FC set for Aizawl test in I-League opener

Relegated to the second division in the country’s football structure, the I-League will kick start on Saturday with no clear favorites and more than one contender to win the trophy. RoundGlass Punjab FC (RGPFC), under new ownership and new branding, is ready to throw themselves into title quest against defending champions Aizawl FC in their opener on the day.
Curtis Fleming and his team will have an uphill task against Aizawl FC because they might emerge as a dark horse in the race to the title.
“Every game is important for us and we have to try to win as many games as possible. We respect every team and each team provides its own set of challenges. We are sure that it will not be an easy outing against Aizawl FC,” said Fleming during the virtual press conference on Friday. “However, we are very confident of ourselves, and I am happy how the team is shaping up to be. We look forward to the challenge and the clash tomorrow (Saturday).”
Punjab FC skipper and I-League veteran Bikramjit Singh believes they cannot take Aizawl FC lightly. “Aizawl FC are an excellent team and we have to be on our toes and give our best if we have to win the match,” said Singh. “It is a long season, but we have to keep our eyes on the prize and continue to work hard every day. It is important to start a season on a good note, and hopefully, we can do that.”
Fleming also shared his views on the new format of the league. “As I said before, it will be more of a sprint than a marathon this time. All the games will be important, and we have to plan accordingly. We are confident and organized. We know how we want to go ahead,” said the coach.
The head coach of RGPFC confirmed that two players, Ashish Jha and Denzil Andrew, have suffered minor injuries and won’t be available for the first match.
Meanwhile, Aizawl FC might want to forget their previous campaign, which only won three games from 15 matches and is hopeful of clinching the title again.
“The I-League season is a long one, and we have set short term goals. We have been preparing hard for the season and we would like to finish in a better position this time around,” said Gosen Rammawia, assistant coach of Aizawl FC, who is performing the gaffer’s job in absence of head coach Stanley Rosario, who is recovering from Covid-19.
“Each team provides its own sets of challenges, and the clash on Saturday will not be easy for us. We are hoping to start the season on a positive note, but we know that it will be a difficult match for us”.