REAL KASHMIR TO DEBUT AGAINST MINERVA PUNJAB

PANCHKULA: Real Kashmir FC’S day of reckoning arrives on Wednesday when they take on defending champions Minerva Punjab in their debut I-league match here.

The Kashmir Valley’s first team to qualify for the I-league will get a first taste of country’s top-flight competition in what is a clash between champions of first and second tiers of Indian club football.

The Punjab side would begin as favourites in Wednesday’s match at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium but it will not be an easy outing for them against their opponents, coached by former Scottish international David Robertson who had played top flight football in his own country and had managerial level assignments in other countries.

Robertson said his players were raring to go and experience the big moment. “We have been waiting for five months for this day to come. We are excited to face the defending champions as well as we have to remember the home ground advantage they have. We have a young and confident team with experienced players as well as some local Kashmiri who have played in I-league before,” he said at the pre-match press conference.

Minerva, on the other hand, are going into the game after playing a goal-less draw encounter against Goa’s Churchill Brothers at the same venue.

Interestingly, it will be a battle between two British managers since Irishman Paul Munster will be at the helm for Minerva.

NEROCA LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK

IMPHAL: Neroca FC would be looking to bounce back from their opening match defeat when they take on Gokulam Kerala FC on Wednesday. Last year’s runners-up Neroca lost 0-2 to East Bengal on Saturday and they would be seeking to notch up their first win of the season in their second match at home.