Margao, Goa – E be like say Coach Manolo Marquez wan balance ambition and reality as him side dey prepare to face I-League champions Inter Kashi FC for dem group-stage match of the Super Cup wey go happen for Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, dis Wednesday. Na third match in seven days for Goa, and dem don already gather three points from dem first game against Jamshedpur FC. But na another win dem need if dem wan remain for top! (Wetin dem chop wey make dem dey work so hard?)
Manolo sabi say dis kind run of matches no be small work, especially since dem don dey play just three matches for three months before now. As e be now, him go need to rely on everybody wey dey squad, no be only di first-choice players, wey dey sunshine most times.
“We need to manage di team,” Manolo yarn join TOI on Tuesday. “We get five games for 14 days and dis one go be our third. We ready get squad wey go fit handle di matter. We go change lineup small small,” he add. Abeg, make dem no overwork demseleves, because dem fit just fall for hand like bad pounded yam!
Inter Kashi don ready show dem level as dem surprise NorthEast United with dem all-Indian squad. Now dem don add two foreign players, Mario Barco and David Humanes, wey don part of last season’s champions. Manolo no go take dem lightly, as e don talk say dem na tough opponent. “Dem sabi how to play ball: when dem need to counter-attack, dem go do am; when dem need to hold di ball, dem be gunners on top.” (Na wetin we go call strategy, abi na magic?)
For di line up, we go see some changes. Iker Guarrotxena, wey don just come back after injury, fit get more minutes. But Pol Moreno still dey doubtful, while Mohammed Yasir and Nim Dorjee dey struggle to recover from dem injuries like say dem carry heavy load!
Inter Kashi dey encouraged as dem don collect draw against NEUFC, and e be like say dem carry ginger enter dis match. Acting coach Abhijit Mondal talk say, “Di boys dey enjoy every match, and we dey focus to give 100%.” E no get backup plan, because dem dey young but dem dey gather experience and confidence with every match like fine wine!
As matches dey come, we go see whether Goa fit hold dem own against Inter Kashi. But one thing wey dey clear, dis Super Cup na no be small wahala as everybody dey fight for glory like dem dey chop pounded yam before dem match!
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