It is start of new football season, as Kashmir will be hosting the first I-League match of the season at Synthetic Turf Stadium, TRC ground here on Thursday.
As the first two scheduled games were postponed due to weather earlier in the month, Real Kashmir FC is all set to kick start its new home I-League season against defending Champions Chennai City FC on Thursday.
It will be first high level football match to be played in Kashmir after August 5 decision of Union Government to abrogate article 370 and convert J&K State into Union Territory. For the match all the preparations have been finalized and the visiting team arrived in Srinagar on Tuesday and held its training session at the field on Wednesday.
In a pre-match press conference Chennai City FC coach Akber Nawas said that it has not been a difficult decision for us to come to Kashmir as they have very good previous experience.
“Not a difficult decision to make for us in coming to Kashmir as we had very good previous experience. We faced zero problems and hospitality is very good. It is good place with nice people around. Last year it was colder and this time weather is good. We expect it to remain same for tomorrow game,” Chennai City coach said.
Real Kashmir FC Coach, David Robertson said that it has been long wait for his side to kick start the season.
“Since early August it has been long wait and it was disappointing to see first two games getting postponed. When we reached back to Srinagar from Imphal yesterday the whole mood of the camp changed as it was now clear we will be playing our first home game,.” He said.
“We all are excited for our first home game. Just can’t wait to go out in front of home fans. Chennai is very difficult side to play against. We have success against them but this is new season and a new game,” Robertson said.
Real Kashmir FC has started the season with two draws and coach said that it has not been a disappointing start.
“At the start if I was given a choice of taking away draws, I would have taken it. In that respect not a disappointing start but the way we lost the advantage of registering an outright win is disappointing. We were in winning position and then had to settle for a draw,” he said.
Last season Real Kashmir FC which is first ever I-League side of J&K, playing in its debut season finished third in the league and had best defense in whole league. This year coach has boosted his side with strikers like Shubhash Singh and Callum.