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I-League: We'll be going all out for a win against Salgaocar - Churchill Brothers defender Denzil Franco
The India international is excited to face his former club in the Goan derby on Sunday and wants to be on the winning side...
21-Jan-2012 11:15:00 PM
By Anselm Noronha
Churchill Brothers SC right wing-back Denzil Franco has stressed that they will leave no stone unturned when his side take on Salgaocar SC in round 16 of the I-League.
"Compared to last season, we have a better team. Last year, Salgaocar gave us a tough time in the league by defeating us in both the home and away matches.
"I think it will be a tough match. In the first round [against Salgaocar this season] it was a draw, so this time we are hoping for a better result," the 26-year-old told Goal.com.
"In the end, the crowd should be happy and they should feel that it was a good match, rather than feeling that everyone was playing defensive. We'll be going all out for a win."
Playing for the Goan rivals before joining Mahindra United (now disbanded) in 2009, Franco admitted his excitement ahead of the Sunday's derby.
"I grew up supporting Salgaocar and it was always my dream to play for Salgaocar, and I've done it. It will be a really nice feeling to play against the club I admired since childhood," he said.
The Churchill number 12, although pledged his allegiance with his current club, refused to rule out a move back to his former club.
"I'm a professional player, so I will think of the team who I am currently with. At the moment, I'm with Churchill, so this is the club I am supposed to give my best.
"At the end of the season if something better comes up my way or if it does not work with Churchill, things could change, but for now I am a Churchill player," he reiterated.
Denzil Franco went on to reveal his coach's plans which were ambitious to say the least.
"There is a good team spirit under coach Manuel [Gomes] and he's really trying to make a top team for future. His aim is Asia.
"He (Gomes) wants the team to be the best, not only in the country, but he's looking forward to the Asian level. It starts from the I-League, so we have to win the title and get the slot."
Churchill Brothers have so far been the team to concede the least number of goals (12) from their previous 15 matches in the I-League.
"In the defense, I play alongside Gouramangi [Moirangthem], [Dharmaraj] Ravanan, [Antun] Kovacic and on the left Raju [Yumnam], and we have a good combination among ourselves.
"I have been playing with Mangi (Gouramangi) and Ravanan in the Indian national team and that is helping us at the club level also," Franco reasoned.
Churchill Brothers SC are set to host defending champions Salgaocar SC at the Nehru stadium, Goa, which kicks-off at 3.30 pm IST.
"Compared to last season, we have a better team. Last year, Salgaocar gave us a tough time in the league by defeating us in both the home and away matches.
"I think it will be a tough match. In the first round [against Salgaocar this season] it was a draw, so this time we are hoping for a better result," the 26-year-old told Goal.com.
"In the end, the crowd should be happy and they should feel that it was a good match, rather than feeling that everyone was playing defensive. We'll be going all out for a win."
Playing for the Goan rivals before joining Mahindra United (now disbanded) in 2009, Franco admitted his excitement ahead of the Sunday's derby.
"I grew up supporting Salgaocar and it was always my dream to play for Salgaocar, and I've done it. It will be a really nice feeling to play against the club I admired since childhood," he said.
The Churchill number 12, although pledged his allegiance with his current club, refused to rule out a move back to his former club.
"I'm a professional player, so I will think of the team who I am currently with. At the moment, I'm with Churchill, so this is the club I am supposed to give my best.
"At the end of the season if something better comes up my way or if it does not work with Churchill, things could change, but for now I am a Churchill player," he reiterated.
Denzil Franco went on to reveal his coach's plans which were ambitious to say the least.
"There is a good team spirit under coach Manuel [Gomes] and he's really trying to make a top team for future. His aim is Asia.
"He (Gomes) wants the team to be the best, not only in the country, but he's looking forward to the Asian level. It starts from the I-League, so we have to win the title and get the slot."
Churchill Brothers have so far been the team to concede the least number of goals (12) from their previous 15 matches in the I-League.
"In the defense, I play alongside Gouramangi [Moirangthem], [Dharmaraj] Ravanan, [Antun] Kovacic and on the left Raju [Yumnam], and we have a good combination among ourselves.
"I have been playing with Mangi (Gouramangi) and Ravanan in the Indian national team and that is helping us at the club level also," Franco reasoned.
Churchill Brothers SC are set to host defending champions Salgaocar SC at the Nehru stadium, Goa, which kicks-off at 3.30 pm IST.
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