I-League: Proven that we belong here: NEROCA FC's Gift Raikhan

Indian Super League Prediction

April 28 2024, 07:30 PM

ATK Mohun Bagan

Odisha

Gift Raikhan, the NEROCA FC coach (Image: AIFF Media)

New Delhi, March 1: At the start of the I-League season, no one would have held out a candle saying NEROCA FC will be vying for the title. But it has been one of those seasons in the I-League where fancied teams are catching up to unexpected pacesetters. Gift Raikhan's NEROCA FC team, according to him, has 'proven we belong here' in the top tier of Indian football.

Football fixtures | Recent results

"As a new team in the I-League, we took it as a challenge to put up our best front. I think we have justified our promotion to the I-League. We have proven we belong here," Gift said.

Playing the game is good, playing the game fairly is even better. @NerocaFC are leading the fair play table followed by @lajongfc and Giant-killer FC @GokulamKeralaFC.#HeroILeague pic.twitter.com/VuB6tSSCSh
— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) February 21, 2018

'I-League is a good platform for Arrows' 'I-League is a good platform for Arrows'

Any new journey will bring its own set of challenges, but what counts is how you respond to them. Gift's boys stood up tall and how. "What we did in the I-League second division is in the past. The I-League is a different ball game. You have to live in the present and take each day as it comes.

"Yes it is the top tier but you can't let yourselves be bogged down by the occasion. Then you are doomed from the start," he cautioned.

UPCOMING MATCH !!
EAST BENGAL vs NEROCA FC
Date - 8th March, 2018
Kick Off - 3:00 pm
Venue - VYBK Stadium, Salt Lake#heroileague #indianfootball #nerocafc #prideofmanipur #orangebrigade #backtheorange #india #manipur #northeast #KEBvNFC pic.twitter.com/1pIdAT7Hmn
— Neroca FC (@NerocaFC) February 24, 2018

With nine wins and four draws from their 17 matches so far, NEROCA FC have had a fairly consistent run this season. They are placed second on the table with 31 points, one behind leaders Minerva Punjab who have a game in hand. They play their last game against East Bengal on March 8. "Apart from a few signings, most of the squad stay the same. So the understanding, continuity and the consistency has paid off for us," Gift said, attributing the success to the management retaining the same set of boys.

The locals have also thrown their weight behind the team with crowds thronging to the stadium, setting attendance records in the process. "It is a humbling experience. All the love and affection we get is beyond words. They also expect a lot from us and there is certainly no limit to human expectations. "We fully understand the sentiments of the people but there are certain limitations to every football team, we are just trying our best to match up with them," he added.