Srinagar- Real Kashmir Football Club is set to face Namdhari FC in a high-stakes I-League match at the TRC Ground here on Tuesday.
Both teams are vying for the second spot on the points table, with Namdhari FC currently ahead with 25 points from 14 matches, followed closely by Inter Kashi with 24 points and Real Kashmir with 23 points from the same number of games. A win for the Snow Leopards would see them climb to second place with 26 points.
Addressing a pre-match press conference on Monday, Real Kashmir head coach Ishfaq Ahmad acknowledged the challenge posed by Namdhari FC but expressed confidence in his team’s performance.
“Namdhari FC is a strong opponent. They have been playing well both at home and away. But we are playing on our home turf and will give our best to achieve a positive result,” he said.
Ishfaq expressed satisfaction with RKFC’s performance in the league so far, emphasizing the financial constraints the club faces compared to other teams.
“There is a massive budget difference between RKFC and other I-League teams, but we have been performing well despite the odds,” he noted.
Responding to queries about RKFC’s star striker, Gnohere Krizo, who is yet to break into the starting lineup, Ishfaq explained that the team had already established a combination before signing him late.
“Krizo was one of our best players last season and has a great reputation in India. But there is tough competition. He has been helping us. But if he wants to be in the starting XI, he has to prove himself again. We can’t select players based on past performances,” he said, adding that two other strikers have been performing well.
On the development of local players, he stressed the need for greater professionalism.
“Foreign players are more committed on and off the field. They follow strict routines regarding diet and rest, which our local players must adopt to reach their level,” he said.
RKFC, owned by Arshid Shawl, is the only club from Jammu and Kashmir competing in the I-League. The team consists of a mix of local and foreign players.
Namdhari FC head coach Harpreet Singh also addressed the media.
The match is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM for which adequate arrangements have been made and will be live telecast on Sony Sports 2 and SSEN app and website.
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