Spirited PFC to face Chirag United today

While PFC will be looking to move to second place from fourth,Chirag which is languishing at the bottom of the table will be looking to move out of the relegation zone. Despite their victory against Pailan Arrows last week,PFC looked rusty.

PFC coach Derrick Pereira says,“There was a long rest prior to that match and coming from there the team was a little slow,but they picked up in the second half. In the match against Chirag we will be sticking to our basics. That has always been our plan. In this league,we have been looking at one match at a time,and this will be no different.”

PFC are currently placed behind Dempo SC,Mohun Bagan,and KF East Bengal. Interestingly,they have beaten all the top teams in the league and have lost narrowly or made to fight hard to win,against some of the lower placed teams.

Admitting that complacency could be an issue Pereira says the team is looking to plug in all holes in their mid-field.

“We have been exposed in the mid-field,and would be looking to prevent that in our encounter against Chirag. Like Chirag,even we are treating it as a must win game. We would like to move to the very top of the league and are hopeful that a victory would help us achieve that goal.”

PFC will still miss the services of their striker Jeje Lalpekhlua who is still nursing an injury.

“Jeje is doing well. We have been monitoring his progress and it is good. We have a eight day break for the next game and are hopeful of getting him fit for the next match. On the other hand,Abhra Mondal is still recovering from his injury. He is out for the season,but will resume training next month,” Pereira said.

PFC has three players from Kerala namely,custodian Shahinlal Meloly,defenders Othallo Tabia and Anas Edathodika. Othallo along with Meloly and Karma Tsewang have been members of the Chirag United team that was known as Viva Kerala up until the end of the 2010-11 season.

“We are not going to adopt a wait and watch policy and alter it as the game progresses. We will be looking ot exploit their defence. Given the fact that the team has acclimatized to the conditions in Kochi conditions,we are confident of having a great game against them,” he added.

Kick-off time for the game is at 3.00 pm on Sunday.

Owing to heavy rains in the last few days,stadium officials have been sanding out patches of the stadium that have been turned into puddles due to the rains.