New-look Churchill look to end Gokulam's fairy-tale run

Goa, February 23: Churchill Brothers have their task cut out against giant-killers Gokulam FC who are one of the most in-form teams in I League right now.

The two come face-to-face at Churchill's home turf, the Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Saturday (February 24).

The victory that Churchill Brothers recorded in the reverse fixture in January had helped them turn around their season. The Goan club was beginning to climb up the ladder with a string of wins before hitting a rough patch which saw them lose three straight games.

"We're in such a position that the reputation of the club and the players are at stake. We're in a hole which we ourselves have created. All the remaining three matches are literally like final for us," Churchill Brothers coach Alfred Fernandes said on the eve of the match.

The deflating defeat against Indian Arrows was followed by losses against NEROCA FC and Chennai City.

"The three games were a lesson to us and we know what we've to do now starting tomorrow," Churchill captain Osagie Monday said.

The former I-League champions are just one point above tenth-placed placed Indian Arrows who suffered a shocking defeat to reigning champions Aizawl FC.

Meanwhile, Gokulam has hit the right chord at the right time and their five wins out of six in the last six rounds are one of the best in the division.

In their last three matches against the top guns, they have beaten Mohun Bagan (2-1), East Bengal (2-1) and Minerva Punjab (1-0).

"Our first aim is to play a very good game here. We don't have any pressure so we can play freely. We can put hundred per cent in the matches," said Gokulam FC coach Bino George.

The Kerala side have leaped to the seventh place in the table with nineteen points from 15 matches.

Gokulam coach conceded that his team is highly motivated.

"We badly need a team from Kerala. Now people have started following us. For the last six years, there has been no team from Kerala in the I League. Kerala have a lot of good talented boys and this is a platform for them," he said.

Fernandes shared that the club have roped in two new foreigners to stem the rot.

"Yes, we have got two new strikers to strengthen our attacking options. Siyo Zuniappo (Congo) and Francis Oneyama (Nigeria) have joined the team to replace Koffi Mechac and Kalu Ogba respectively.

(Source: AIFF Media)

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