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I-League: Manuel Gomes Believes Churchill Have Got A New Identity Post-Odafa Okolie Era
The Portuguese credits the hard work put in by his squad, and suggests that the team has moved away from the shadow of Odafa Okolie...
21-Dec-2011 12:01:00 AM
By Anselm Noronha
Goal.com
Churchill Brothers SC has climbed to the top of the table and will be looking to extend their lead when they take on Pune FC in their I-League round 11 match.
Manuel Gomes, head coach at the Goan club, has stated that they are not yet looking as far as the end of the season but only at their subsequent next match.
"We are not looking at where we will be in our last match in April or May. Every next game is the most important target for Churchill Brothers.
"Our next match is against Pune FC, so now we will look only for Pune, and after that we will look for Sporting Goa," said the 60-year-old.
"The team is playing well and will try to stay in first place for which it is very important to play well and win," Gomes went on to praise the performance of his boys.
"Churchill Brothers always try to play well, show good football, and we had very good results in our last four games," he added.
It's About A Team, And Not An Individual
Elaborating further, Gomes pointed out that it is the balance between the players that has helped his side in soaring to the top of the table.
"It is very important to play well and win, and the balance between my players all over the ground has been very good. It's a big challenge for everybody to play good football and win."
"All the players [at Churchill Brothers] are improving very well and it is also important that the tactical and physical frame is kept in good shape.
"Beto was injured for a long time, but he is improving game-by-game and is very close to 100%. He's a very important player for us. He's very tactical."
Churchill Brothers striker Henry Antchouet has already scored 11 goals in all competitions, seven of them in the I-League.
On being asked to compare the striker with Odafa Okolie who played a key role in Churchill's success until last season, Gomes said, "They (Henry and Odafa) are both different players.
"Odafa plays in another team. Now in Churchill Brothers - player A, B or C - all the players are important in the team and our key is the artwork of playing more together."
"There is no doubt that there is a good connection between Henry and other players, especially between Beto and the Henry because they are both very experienced players," he continued.
Has Henry's Goalscoring Spree Gotten Rid Of The Odafa Ghost?
The coach also made a mention of a few youngsters who, he believes, shall make it big in Indian football.
"Dika (Lalrindika Ralte) is very young player and soon he will be one of the best players in India. There are other young players like Lenny [Rodrigues], Bineesh [Balan] who are all welcome to play.
"[Mohammed] Rafi is also important. Churchill Brothers are built for the future with an ever improving talent. Raju [Yumnam], Denzil [Franco], Naveen [Kumar] all need time to improve."
The turn-out for I-League matches in Goa isn't very encouraging and the Portuguese believes that it's got to do with the kick-off timings as opposed to the general interest in the game.
"Lot of people like football in Goa. I think there will be more people if the game is in the evening after work," Gomes reasoned.
"It is very important that TV shows football and teams should show good football so that people come to the stadium."
Manuel Gomes, head coach at the Goan club, has stated that they are not yet looking as far as the end of the season but only at their subsequent next match.
"We are not looking at where we will be in our last match in April or May. Every next game is the most important target for Churchill Brothers.
"Our next match is against Pune FC, so now we will look only for Pune, and after that we will look for Sporting Goa," said the 60-year-old.
"The team is playing well and will try to stay in first place for which it is very important to play well and win," Gomes went on to praise the performance of his boys.
"Churchill Brothers always try to play well, show good football, and we had very good results in our last four games," he added.
It's About A Team, And Not An Individual
Elaborating further, Gomes pointed out that it is the balance between the players that has helped his side in soaring to the top of the table.
"It is very important to play well and win, and the balance between my players all over the ground has been very good. It's a big challenge for everybody to play good football and win."
"All the players [at Churchill Brothers] are improving very well and it is also important that the tactical and physical frame is kept in good shape.
"Beto was injured for a long time, but he is improving game-by-game and is very close to 100%. He's a very important player for us. He's very tactical."
Churchill Brothers striker Henry Antchouet has already scored 11 goals in all competitions, seven of them in the I-League.
On being asked to compare the striker with Odafa Okolie who played a key role in Churchill's success until last season, Gomes said, "They (Henry and Odafa) are both different players.
"Odafa plays in another team. Now in Churchill Brothers - player A, B or C - all the players are important in the team and our key is the artwork of playing more together."
"There is no doubt that there is a good connection between Henry and other players, especially between Beto and the Henry because they are both very experienced players," he continued.
Has Henry's Goalscoring Spree Gotten Rid Of The Odafa Ghost?
The coach also made a mention of a few youngsters who, he believes, shall make it big in Indian football.
"Dika (Lalrindika Ralte) is very young player and soon he will be one of the best players in India. There are other young players like Lenny [Rodrigues], Bineesh [Balan] who are all welcome to play.
"[Mohammed] Rafi is also important. Churchill Brothers are built for the future with an ever improving talent. Raju [Yumnam], Denzil [Franco], Naveen [Kumar] all need time to improve."
The turn-out for I-League matches in Goa isn't very encouraging and the Portuguese believes that it's got to do with the kick-off timings as opposed to the general interest in the game.
"Lot of people like football in Goa. I think there will be more people if the game is in the evening after work," Gomes reasoned.
"It is very important that TV shows football and teams should show good football so that people come to the stadium."
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