MARGAO
Five-time I-League champions Dempo Sports Club face mounting challenges in their bid to qualify for the I-League as their fate now hinges on the performance of other teams.
Dempo are set to play an away match against Kenkre FC in the I-League 2 at the COE Ground in Khargar, Mumbai on Monday.
Dempo's hopes took a hit after a 1-1 draw against United Sports Club Kolkata at home. Currently, Dempo have 18 points and are fifth in the eight-team standings. Kenkre FC are bottom of the table with just 9 points.
Head coach Samir Naik recognizes the significance of the upcoming match, emphasizing that a victory would be equivalent to gaining six points.
"We understand the importance of this match, but it holds even greater significance for Kenkre, who will undoubtedly put up a tough fight," said Naik. "Tomorrow’s match can be seen as a six-pointer since winning it would add three points to our tally while deducting three from Kenkre."
Despite the absence of key players like Mohammed Ali, Pruvtesh Pednekar, and Vinay Harji due to suspension and injury, Naik expressed confidence in the team's ability to compensate for their absence.
"Our objective is to win and bring joy to Dempo fans," Naik stated. "We see this as an opportunity to avenge our previous home match defeat. The team is fully prepared, and we aim to showcase our best performance to secure a place in the I-League," Naik concluded.
