With 14 points in seven matches, Garhwal FC stood atop the 2nd Division League last season and their captain Bala Alhassan Dahir is confident about the team’s chances in the I-League Qualifier 2020, which will see the side from Delhi face off against four other teams – Mohammedan SC, Bhawanipore FC, ARA FC, and FC Bengaluru United – for a direct place in the I-League 2020-21.
“I strongly believe in our team and in our coach. The way we have been training, we can get what we want in this tournament. We have to make the most of the capabilities of our team. We are confident of qualifying,” Bala told www.i-league.org
The veteran midfielder, who hails from Nigeria, had played in all of his team’s matches in last season’s 2nd Division League.
“We are working very hard in our preparation. We are more or less the same team from last season. Since we resumed training, the coach has worked hard on our fitness and the boys are getting in shape. The team is shaping up well and preparing for the fight,” he quipped.
With the team consisting of a number of young players, Bala spoke about his responsibility of “motivating” the boys and instilling a sense of confidence in them, while focussing on the team’s “understanding”.
“As captain, I motivate and push the boys. This club is like my home and I firmly believe in my boys. They are young players but it is not much different from the others. It is the understanding in the team that matters most and I feel we understand each other well. We are ready to go there and fight. It’s a great chance and we can’t afford to miss it!” he said.
Garhwal FC kick-off their qualifying campaign against Kolkata-based side Mohammedan SC at the Kalyani Stadium on October 8 and according to Bala, the team’s discipline will help the unit rise to the occasion on the pitch.
“One of the most important things in football is discipline. The boys are extremely disciplined, ready to learn, and ready to improve. Having played in Kolkata before, I encourage the boys to not be tense about facing teams like Mohammedan Sporting and Bhawanipore FC and tell them that there is no difference between them and us. I know that once the day comes, we can come together and do well,” he said.
