Hero I-League 2017-18 NEROCA FC fully prepared for clash against Arrows: Gift
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 04 2018: NEROCA FC will host Indian Arrows tomorrow at Main Stadium, Khuman Lampak in the 38th league match of the Hero I-League which began on November 25 under the aegis of All India Football Federation on home and away basis.

"NEROCA FC will not disappoint our fans and we are fully prepared to face our rivals Indian Arrows", said NEROCA coach, Gift Raikhan in a pre match media interaction held at Classic Grande.

He said, "Indian Arrows which stars emerging players of the country will produce a strong line up tomorrow but NEROCA FC will undoubtedly come back stronger and maintain its position in the league table " .

When asked about the support from the spectators, Gift maintained that it would be possibly 50-50 as the visiting side also features many local lads who did a commendable job for India in the recently held U-17 FIFA World Cup. Stressing more on performance, captain of home team, Lalit Thapa said, " Games and sports look for performance, not the age of an individual or maturity of a team at large." He said that the Indian Arrows might feature young guns who are really fresh but experienced NEROCA FC will surely outperform them in tomorrow's match.

Coach of Indian Arrows, Lu�s Norton de Matos said that he was in Manipur for the first time and narrated how excited he was when he came to know about the players from the State who were in the Indian U-17 side.

Stating that the region has big passion for football, he said that he was glad to be a coach of Indian Arrows which features many players from Manipur. "In the I-League, all teams depend on foreigners.

We are a bit different.

After each game, we gain more experience.

We try to win the game but there is no guarantee that we would win every match," he said.

"Irrespective of the result, the crowd who come to the stadium must be entertained with the football and the players' collective experience both on and off the field would be crucial in deciding any match", Norton said.

NEROCA is unexpectedly doing well occupying the third place with 11 points from 6 matches while the young guns are struggling in the seventh position with 7 points from 7 matches.

Both teams also appealed football lovers of the State to witness the clash which begins at 2 pm tomorrow.

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