MARGAO
Churchill Brothers Sports Club would look to continue their giant-killing run in the I-League when they take on defending champions Aizawl FC at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Tuesday.
Churchill Brothers coach Alfred Fernandes believes that his side have right balance and would be able to get full points against the Shillong side.
“Our target is to finish in the top four and for that to happen we need to win all our matches,” Fernandes said. “We are not taking Aizawl lightly. They are a very good side and of course the defending champions. But we are looking to get the three points. The match against the Shillong side is going to be very important,” Fernandes added.
Churchill Brothers will miss the services of striker Uttam Rai, who is not match fit. Other than Rai, everybody else is ready to play, Fernandes revealed.
“We give equal respect to all the teams and we are not undermining Aizwal at all. We played exceeding well against Minerva Punjab FC and we are aware of the mounting expectations from the fans,” Fernandes added.
Meanwhile, Paulo Menezes-coached Aizawl are coming from a stalemate against Chennai City FC and would be wary of the Red Machines who are looking to be the team to beat at the moment. Aizawl have reasons to be worried as they are winless in their last five matches - counting the AFC Champions League game against Zob Ahan.
The not-so-decent run of results has seen them slump to a lowly sixth on 16 points and Churchill Brothers are only three points behind the defending champions. Churchill Brothers are growing in confidence with each passing game after the addition of players like Koffi Mechac, Kalu Ogba, Eldor Hussein
and others.
“It is my belief that if we had this whole set of foreigners from the beginning, we could have been in the top two and even heading the league table with some distance. In the initial stages of the season, we lost five matches which is 15 points. So you see the recovery we had to make from the five defeats,” Fernandes said.
Even Aizawl coach Meneses agreed that this Churchill Brothers team is not the same as the side they had beaten in the reverse fixture. “You cannot compare this Churchill Brothers to the one that played in Aizawl with us. They have improved a lot. It will be a very tough game. We are ready to play against them but we know it will be difficult. They are a very competitive team and they are improving. It is not the same Churchill Brothers,” Menezes said.
