Confident Churchill ready for Mumbai FC challenge

Margao - Churchill Brothers will adopt an aggressive approach against Mumbai FC in a third round I-League clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here Saturday.

Churchill Brothers demolished ONGC 5-0 in their previous match and looked in fine touch with Lebanese striker Akram Moghrabi scoring a hat-trick.

When Churchill take the field on Saturday, there won’t be any change in their approach.

“We cannot afford to take Mumbai FC lightly, just like any other team in the competition. However, we are not going to change our approach. We will be aggressive as usual. But, that will be controlled aggression,” said Churchill Brothers technical director Subhash Bhowmick.

Bhowmick has moulded Churchill into a fine attacking bunch and their performances in the Federation Cup and two matches in the I-League have suggested that they are among the best teams in the country. Bhowmick, though, believes it is too soon to make any assumptions.

“There is a long way to go for the league to call us, or anyone, favourites. But I do agree that we have played attractive football,” said Bhowmick, who will field an unchanged side from the previous match.

Akram is likely to start with Brazilian striker Roberto Mendes da Silva upfront while young India international Lenny Rodrigues will call the shots from the midfield.

Mumbai FC, on the other hand, are yet to open their account but coach Khalid Jamil will be confident after the arrival of Ghanaian striker Yakubu Yusif. The veteran striker has already joined the squad and will be eager to prove that there is still much football left in him.

Yakubu, in all certainties, will be partnered by Nigerian striker Ndubusi Opara, who last year donned colours for Churchill Brothers and even has a hat-trick in the I-League to his name. With Yakubu and Opara keen to prove a point, Churchill will have to be on their guard.