MARGAO
Dempo Sports Club head coach Samir Naik expressed disappointment after his side were held to a 2-2 draw by Real Kashmir FC in their Indian Football League clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.
Reflecting on the result, Naik said his team had put in the effort but failed to capitalise on key moments.
“We worked hard during the match and started well, but then we committed many mistakes,” he said. “We did not take advantage of the opportunities we created. Our goal was to win, but we failed to achieve that.”
Naik admitted that the inability to convert chances proved costly. “My only disappointment today is that we didn’t win. In football, there are always ‘almost’ moments — chances that don’t turn into goals. At the end of the day, all that matters is putting the ball in the back of the net,” he remarked.
Despite dominating large spells of the contest and creating several openings, Dempo were unable to make their superiority count. “We knew this would be a hard game for us,” Naik added.
Meanwhile, Real Kashmir FC head coach Ishaq Ahmed said he was satisfied with his team’s performance and spirit.
“It feels really good to coach this team. The players showed great desire and commitment. This is a tough tournament,” Ahmed said. “It’s not a bad result for us, but I believe we deserved more. What makes me happy is how the players performed on the pitch.”
Having worked with the squad for the past three weeks, Ahmed said he was pleased with the progress shown by his players. “I am happy with their performance and satisfied with the way they played,” he concluded.
