Salgaocar, Pune FC hungry for season’s maiden trophy

PANAJI: When Derrick Pereira returned to Salgaocar Football Club as coach, he was welcomed with gusto. Forever a club hero for his dedicated stint, Derrick left in 1999 to become a coach and returned last season when probably he was needed the most.
Karim Bencherifa’s departure midway into the 2012-13 season for Mohun Bagan had hurt the club management, and although David Booth was hired to fill the void, it was always going to be a temporary arrangement.Derrick was soon identified as the man who could spur them to the top and, ironically, he now runs into Bencherifa’s Pune FC in his quest for his first trophy with Salgaocar: the Durand Cup.
“I think we crossed our biggest hurdle against Bengaluru FC in the semifinal. The final should be a good contest,” said Derrick, preparing his team for the Durand Cup final clash against Pune FC at the Raia sports complex on Saturday.
Bengaluru FC was easily the team to beat at the Durand Cup and Salgaocar did a pretty good job keeping the I-League champions at bay. Methodical and disciplined, Salgaocar never lost sight of their ambitions even though they were just just one goalline save away from disaster.
“We have to start all over again. The players know their job and are all eager for their first final of the season,” said Derrick, who is sweating on the fitness of Zambian defender Francis Kosande.
Pune FC, and Bencherifa, are just as excited. Pune FC is among India’s more professional football teams but their trophy cabinet is almost bare. In seven years since its formation, they never made it to the final of any tournament worth its name and their best performance remains a semifinal spot at the Durand Cup in 2012.
“I am very happy but things do not happen in an easy manner. You have to work hard for everything. The staff and players at Pune FC did a great job to be where we are but I’ve had to remind everyone that nobody remembers the second-placed team. The way Pune FC are running the club, they deserve to be champions of this competiton,” said Bencherifa.
There are reasons for optimism. They will surely benefit from Luciano Sobrozo’s experience at the back, while the livewire presence of Ryuji Sueoka can give them an edge. The two had, after all, won the I-League for Salgaocar.
“Playing in the final of the 127th edition of Durand Cup is like having the pleasure of driving a 1930's Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe,” tweeted Bencherifa.
But, Salgaocar who lie in wait, are ready to burst forth like a Ferrari!