MMC will be take on local team Camelia United Sikkim Sports Club in the pre-quarterfinal on Saturday as their first opponents in the event. [break]
“The upcoming match will be significant for the team as it has been a challenge for the team and management to give better results in new formation,” said MMC team leader and office secretary Kumar Bhattarai.
The tournament also carries a great significance for MMC Coach Bal Gopal Maharjan. Despite presence of star players of Nepali football fraternity, Maharjan failed to deliver a satisfactory result in the San Miguel Cup Knockout Football Tournament held in Kathmandu last month in his first outing as the coach of MMC. His side were given a 1-0 extra time blow by NRT in the quarterfinal.
“We will attempt to make a new start by lifting the trophy,” said Maharjan. "We will try to please our supporters in Sikkim as they love Nepali football," he added.
Maharjan considers his midfield as his strength and laments for comparatively weak defense line-up. “We do not have a strong defense line-up as we had defenders Rohit Chand and Sandeep Rai moved to Indian teams," said Maharjan.
Maharjan, however, is cautious regarding the opponents United Sikkim who made to the pre-quarterfinal round defeating Bhutan XI 1-0 in the inaugural match on Friday. “We are playing against a home team. Home crowd and ground could be their advantage but we´ll try to overcome all the hurdles and move forward to achieve our aim," vowed Maharjan.
Captain Tashi Tshering is also confident that his side will put up a good performance in the tournament and will make it to the final.
United Sikkim, the second ranking team in Sikkim, is coming up with young players. The team is full of U-20 players alongside two Nigerians player.
United Sikkim´s manager Arjun Rai is proud of their defense lineup but is not satisfied with their forwards. “We are participating to give exposure to our young players. We will come up with short and compact one touch pass,” Lama said.
Probable starting 11:
Goalkeeper: Bishal Shrestha
Defenders: Anjan KC, Palsang Sherpa, Deepak Bhusal, Tashi Tshering (Captain)
Midfielders: Rajesh Shahi, Shiva Shrestha, Nirajan Khadka, Khum Gurung
Forwards: Santosh Sahukhala, Sujal Shrestha
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