Madan Maharaj FC eye strong comeback against Rajasthan United
After facing their first defeat of the Hero I-League Qualifiers 2021 final round against Kenkre FC, Madan Maharaj FC are eyeing a return to winning ways as they prepare to take on Rajasthan United FC here at the Bangalore Football Stadium.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 3:45 PM IST and will be telecast live on the 1Sports broadcast network and streamed live on the 1Sports Facebook page.
Madan Maharaj FC approach tomorrow’s encounter finding themselves in a virtual do-or-die situation as the side from Madhya Pradesh must secure a win to keep their Hero I-League qualification hopes alive. In the face of adversity, MMFC head coach Amit Jaiswal maintained an optimistic outlook, stressing that the team must get over the disappointment of their first defeat and focus on the task at hand.
“The way I look at it, we cannot dwell on the past result as we must focus on the match tomorrow. Frankly, we do not have any other choice either. We still have a chance to go through, so we have to try and go out tomorrow to get a win and build some momentum for our last game of the competition. There are still 6 key points to play for, and we have to try and obtain the maximum. Even in the group stage, we began our campaign with a disappointing draw but we managed to finish on top by the end. Therefore, I remain optimistic that we can achieve that same feat again. We have the self-belief and the attitude to always fight until the end,” said Amit Jaiswal in the pre-match press conference.
Jaiswal identified some key areas where he wants his team to improve in order to come away with a win against Rajasthan United. He said, “We did not play a bad match yesterday, but we did miss a lot of chances and we were not clinical in front of goal. Our reality at the moment is that we are missing some key players in attack with the likes of Shubham (Bhowmick) and Jiten (Murmu) being out injured. They are crucial to our style of play and it is not easy for new players to come in take up that role in such a short span.”
Jaiswal went on to state that key forward Jiten Murmu is facing a race against time to be fit and available for Madan Maharaj FC’s crucial match tomorrow. He said, “We are tracking Jiten’s injuries and hoping that he will be able to recover and be fit for tomorrow’s match. The turn-around time between matches is quick, so we cannot be certain if he will be ready by tomorrow, but our physiotherapist and the rest of the staff are trying their best to aid his recovery.”
South African player William Twala spoke about dealing with pressure as MMFC set out to overturn the points’ deficit in their remaining two matches. Twala said, “In football, there is always pressure to perform because it is a game of results at the end of the day. When you don’t get results, there is added pressure for the next game. We will try to use this pressure as a boost to go out there and give everything to have the results come our way for the next two matches.”
Rajasthan United FC came into the Hero I-League Qualifiers content to not be categorized as one of the favorites in the competition, but the side has gone from strength to strength since their first match in their debut Qualifiers campaign. With four matches played and the final round underway, RUFC remains the only undefeated team in the competition so far.
RUFC head coach Vikrant Sharma attended the pre-match press conference and remained in high spirits as his team stands joint top with Kenkre FC in the current final round standings. As he reflected on the win over Delhi FC, head coach Vikrant Sharma said, “We are feeling really good after the big win yesterday. When you are starting a new round with a clean slate, it is always important that you start on a positive note. We discussed in our pre-match meeting that our job and our focus is to produce our effort, and as long as we do that we can accept whatever the result may be. So I was really happy to see the effort and the output we managed to produce for such a big game.”
“Delhi FC has a lot of big players and a really good professional setup, and they have put in a lot of hours and weeks to prepare for this campaign. We always knew that it was bound to be a really tough game. If we look back at the match, we were always there and fighting with them in every play. We had some chances which could materialize into anything more, but eventually, we got the win and we are elated with that result,” he added.
Rajasthan United FC captain Akeem Abioye spoke like a thorough professional in the pre-match press conference as he summed up the mood in the RUFC camp. He said, “The boys are feeling good and the camp is buzzing as they deserve to feel happy with the result, but our focus is completely on the next two matches. We cannot get swept away with this feeling and must focus on the task ahead, because we are not here to just win the odd match and participate in this competition. We are here to win the whole thing and qualify into the I-League. That is our only objective.”
For Trial related updates: Latest trials updates in Mumbai Football
Also Read: Lemon Break Sports FC to conduct trials for MFA 1st Division campaign
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian football
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League / MFA Super League
Redefining Mumbai Football: The unique approach of India On Track FC
In a football landscape where clubs often prioritize short-term success over long-term sustainability, India On Track FC (IOT FC) stands out as a beacon of dedication, unity, and unwavering commitment…
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League
MYJ-GMSC Completes Unbeaten Season with Draw Against Millat FC
Kartik Strike in the first half seize’s MYJ-GMSC their unbeaten debut season in MFA Premier League In a high-octane Clash at the MFA Premier League, MYJ-GMSC faced off against Millat…
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League
MH Oranje FC Seals Penultimate Game with Thrilling 2-1 Win Over Reliance FYC
Yogesh Kadam’s First-Half Brace Propels MH Oranje FC Toward a Strong Season Finish. MH Oranje FC clinched a significant 2-1 win over Reliance FYC in the penultimate game of the…
Mumbai City FC ease past FC Goa to set up blockbuster grand finale clash against ISL Champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Mumbai, April 29: Mumbai City FC set up a finals date with the Mohun Bagan Super Giant after defeating FC Goa by 2-0 in the second leg of their semi-final…
Mumbai City FC crowned ISL Cup Winners after remarkable 3-1 comeback win against Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Mumbai City FC crowned ISL Cup Winners Kolkata, May 4: Mumbai City FC beat Mohun Bagan Super Giant 3-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium to emerge as the Indian Super…
SSE BFC to conduct trials for U9 to U17 age group players
SSE BFC Soccer School will be conducting fresh trials this month for players aged below 17 to be part of their football program SSE BFC Soccer Schools is a football…
India Khelo Football Season 3 Trials for Mumbai and Thane are here
India Khelo Football (IKF) is back with Season 3 of its widely acclaimed trials with an aim to cover more than 50 cities this time around. After the resounding success…
Feature / Recommended / Trials
Mastering the Art of Football Trials: Key Pre-Trial Factors to Keep in Mind
Football trials are a critical juncture for aspiring players to showcase their skills and secure a spot in a team. To maximize your chances of success, it’s essential to tailor your approach based on your playing position as well as keeping in mind a few pre-trial factors.
Somaiya Sports Academy to conduct trials for MFA 2nd Division campaign
Somaiya Sports Academy is looking for passionate young football players for the Somaiya Sports Academy Football Team to compete in the MFA 2nd Division League 2023-2024. If selected, you will…
BFC Soccer Schools – Mumbai to conduct trials for U14 & U16 Girls
The BFC Soccer Schools Elite team girls’ trials are coming up in search of talented players from the U14 to U16 (Born 2009 and after) age groups into the club’s…
Opportunity to make the team: U.K.M. Kothrud FC conducts selection trials for girls team
Pune-based U.K.M. Kothrud FC has announced that they will be conducting selection trials for their girl’s team on 15th January 2023 The club welcomes all players to come and showcase…
The Sunday Football League Season 4 is back
The Sunday Football League is back with its fourth season, and it’s shaping up to be the best one yet. With eight talented teams competing at the Kes Kandivali turf, there…
BFC Soccer Schools Elite team trials in Feb
Bengaluru FC launched their Mumbai program last season with the Soccer Schools and Elite programs with its local partner Soccer Schools of Excellence (SSE). Bengaluru Football Club is a professional club…
India Khelo Football Season 2 Trials in Mumbai: A Chance to Kickstart Your Football Career
After conducting trials in 34 cities & villages across India, India Khelo Football is coming to Mumbai to hunt talent on 7th January. India Khelo Football kickstarted its season 2…
MFA / MFA Elite Premier League / Trials
Mumbai Customs to conduct trials for Elite League
Former champions Mumbai Customs will be holding open trials for the upcoming MFA Elite Corporate League (Elite Division) The 2019 MFA Elite Division champions Mumbai Customs are conducting open trials…