ISL 2019-20 | We can do something great for football in Odisha, hopes Josep Gombau
Odisha FC coach Josep Gombau is hopeful that he along with his team can do something to develop the sport in the state. The Spanish coach has also added that although they have shifted their base, everything is not new for the team and they are continuing from their association with Delhi Dynamos.
There are two new teams in the sixth edition of the Indian Super League, Odisha FC and Hyderabad FC, and they will want to leave a mark in the tournament this season. The ISL will kick start from today with ATK and Kerala Blasters taking on each other while Odisha FC will be in action for the first time on October 22 against their neighbours Jamshedpur FC.Â
Odisha FC coach Josep Gombau was thrilled seeing the reception of the team at the airport and is quite hopeful of a good turnout at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar as well where they will be playing the home games.Â
"A big thanks to the people here for preparing good facilities for us. When we first came here to inspect the facilities (on September 15), we got a warm reception; a good number of fans came to welcome us. We need them in the field, too. We need good support, we need full stadium during our home matches. Together, we can do something great for the game in Odisha, so please come in numbers to fill the stands," Gombau told TOI.
"First of all, it's a new project, so we need the support of the people here. However, this is not the first season of the club, everything is not new. Most of the players who were with us in Delhi Dynamos are in Odisha FC this season, so we are continuing from there. I think, compared to last year, we are better and stronger. We had more time to prepare a good competitive team, had a great pre-season in Doha (Qatar) and good bonding before the start of the season. We are looking forward to do very well this year."
Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar had hosted the Super Cup for two consecutive years and was also the adopted home for Jamshedpur FC in the fourth season when they played one game against Bengaluru FC. With Odisha scheduled to play their first home game on November 24, Gombau has hoped to see the ground in a good condition before that.
"We are so happy to be here in Odisha. The stadium is very nice. The natural turf is being laid now, so I think, the grass, the ground condition will be good before we play our first home match (on November 24). In terms of training facilities, people here are working to bring to us a very nice training ground. We will have new gymnasium, new changing rooms and everything else to start our journey here," explained the Spaniard.
"Talks with the government officials during our first visit to Kalinga Stadium was very fruitful. They have been very nice to provide all the facilities required to set up our base here, we are so grateful to the officials. They are doing whatever they an in their capacity to facilitate the change of base and make this a successful project. And I think, people here are also very hungry to have a team based in their area playing in ISL.”
Youngsters Ankit Bhuyan and Shubham Sarangi are the two players in the squad from the state and Gombau stated that Sarangi can be a main player for the team this season. On the other hand, goalkeeper Bhuyan is going to be an understudy of two senior custodians Albino Gomes and Fransisco Dorronsoro.
“Both are very young. Shubham had a very positive year last season as an 18-year-old. This year he is 19 and he can be one of our main players. Ankit is even younger, was only 17 last year when he was promoted to the senior side. He is learning the tricks from other two senior keepers in squad (Albino Gomes and Fransisco Dorronsoro). He is good but has to gain experience, has to grow before he can come into the scheme of things," Gombau concluded.