AFC Cup: Churchill Brothers await tough opener in Hong Kong

Goan I-League side Churchill Brothers play their opening AFC Cup Group E match tomorrow evening at Hong Kong’s Mongkok Stadium against local side Kitchee SC. And the Red Machines know that they have a tough task ahead of them.Head Coach Mariano Dias said at the press conference, “Kitchee SC is the home team, they are well organised and they do have a good side that includes four good foreigners. We are doing well in our domestic league and I’m hoping that our boys out up a good show and get all three points from the match.”

But Mariano Dias will only be able to field two of his foreigners in new signing Lamine Tamba and Henry Arnaud Antchouet Rebienot, while Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva is nursing an injury while Belal Arezou from Afghanistan had visa problems as well as commitments with his national team.

Meanwhile India captain and new on loan signing Sunil Chhetri reiterated what his coach said by saying, “Kitchee are a good side, just watched their match on the 24th and heard about the team through newspaper reports. We are doing great in the domestic league and hope to bring that same form into the AFC Cup, though we will be missing two infuencial players in Beto and Balal Arezou.”

“I’m a new member of the squad and hope to gel quickly with the team,” Chhetri added.

An away tie is always difficult, but Churchill Brothers have shown away in the I-League that they are a quality side, only now one will have to see if the changes amongst the foreigners and the addition of Chhetri has not disturbed the balance in the squad.