SUNDAY'S ACTION
Inter Kashi vs Kerala Blasters, 5 pm
Churchill Brothers vs Mumbai City, 7.30 pm
Live on YouTube, Sony Sports, and SonyLIV
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MARGAO
Churchill Brothers will begin their maiden Indian Super League campaign against Mumbai City FC at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday, hoping to turn their pre-season preparations into a positive performance.
Head coach Dimitris Dimitriou said he wants to build a distinct footballing identity for the club, with a style of play that reflects its traditions and winning mentality.
“It is a great honour to lead a historic club like Churchill Brothers in the ISL. Our aim is to build a strong football culture and establish a style of play that reflects the identity of this club,” Dimitriou said.
“We know the expectations are high, but we are preparing to be competitive against every opponent. Most importantly, we want to give back to our fans for the love they have shown us and bring smiles back to Goa through football.”
Dimitriou acknowledged the challenge posed by Mumbai City FC, pointing to the quality of their squad and the experience of head coach Manolo Marquez.
Churchill Brothers completed 37 training sessions over four weeks during a shortened pre-season. Dimitriou believes the retention of 12 players from last season will help the team maintain cohesion despite the limited preparation time.
The Goan club secured its place in the ISL after taking over Jamshedpur FC's sporting licence, following Tata Steel's decision to discontinue the club's first-team operations in August 2026.
Churchill Brothers' entry into the league follows a difficult period for the club. They lost the 2024-25 I-League title to Inter Kashi following a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling and subsequently sat out the next national season.
Player Kingslee Fernandes said representing Churchill Brothers in the ISL was a proud moment and expressed confidence in the squad's preparations.
“It is a proud moment for me to represent Churchill Brothers in the ISL. We have a good mix of young and experienced players, and our coach has motivated us throughout the training sessions. The preparations have been good, and we are looking forward to tomorrow's match. We will give our best and aim to make our supporters proud.”
