The ‘Men from Merseyside’ saw their side knock three past PIFA Colaba at Cooperage in a 3-0 victory, as we took the opportunity to speak with the very focused at the same time very pleasant David Rogers and Michael R.
The duo has taken great efforts to carve out the DSK Shivajians outfit, which have had a cracking debut so far. A humble Michael R. gave credit to his players and complimented their hard work for their success so far. “It’s all down to training and training hard and the boys work really hard and fortunately for us the results are showing, but we need to continue with the good work as there is a long way ahead.”

Despite their team having strolled through the group so far, David Rogers believes there is a good level of competition for his side and it’s tough to win games. “The League is really competitive. Teams are trying to play football, just like us as we try to get the ball down and play. It’s tough as these players haven’t been together for too long. But the level is really good and the clubs are trying to do all the right things”.

The management team is already looking forward to the next stages. The duo is planning to watch a few more teams play in the other groups, to ensure that they do not leave anything behind in terms of preparation.

“We have watched the teams in this group and me and Michael plan to watch some more from the other groups too. We are very happy with the challenge our boys will face in due course. It’s going to be tough as all the teams are improving and it will improve even further as we progress”, said David Rogers.

DSK Shivajians have scored 19 goals in their five games so far this season, and that has been down to the high amount of possession that the DSK Shivajians hold. Building up from the back, patience added to good technical skill has resulted in the men from Pune build a brand of football of their own in this competition.
Miachael R. spoke about bringing the training methods and techniques used at Liverpool at DSK. “We are trying to bring the philosophy back home an implement it here. The coaching aspects and the training methods are being implemented as they are at Liverpool and it’s paying off. We are working hard on our passing game, working hard to build from the back. We are trying to gel this team and get them talking and hard work pays off”.

David Rogers stressed upon Michael R’s thoughts and highlighted the importance of development of these players. “We are trying to implement the right ways as we do in our academy in Liverpool. But we don’t want to put them under any kind of pressure. We want them to develop and learn the right way and the kids are responding to it. It’s very important to have an atmosphere where they enjoy themselves which will help them develop in the right way, the Liverpool way and they are doing that. So we are very satisfied with what we are seeing”.

David Rogers thinks his side has exceeded expectations of many, but he believes in his team’s ability.

“We may have exceeded expectation here, but we know what our kids are capable of. They are a great bunch, a humble bunch and brilliant for me and Michael to work with. Every day on the training pitch, we are trying to develop them and they are responding really well”.

Moving on from footballing pitch, the Men from Merseyside have loved life in India. Be it food or the locals, everything here has left David Rogers in ample awe. “The life here is fantastic. I love the country. The people here are really nice, very friendly and always ready to help you out with anything. I love the food anyways, so that has helped”.

Michael R. who has been here much before David arrived has similar things to share when it comes to country. “It’s brilliant, this place. The people are lovely and the facility back at DSK is absolutely fantastic and makes you feel at home”.

It has to be said that David Rogers and Michael R. have done a wonderful job at DSK. Their side is not just racking up the goals and points, but a lot of fans with their brilliant football which this country’s junior level has been crying out for.

DSK Shivajians are certainly a breath of fresh air in Indian Football at the moment and we hope to see them more often on the Indian Footballing scenario.

The post We are trying to build these players in the Liverpool way: David Rogers, DSK Shivajians Head Coach appeared first on Football Counter.

DSK Shivajians came into this game in red hot form having won all the four games in the groups with an average of four goals per game. PIFA Colaba on the other hand were looking to bounce back from narrow defeat at the hands of Mumbai FC.
It was a fairly even opening period with both teams finding their feet in the game. But on 18 minutes DSK Shivajians struck as Lallianzuala B. Sohtun scored past the PIFA goalkeeper after being cleverly picked out by Mawihmingthang through a threaded through ball.

PIFA nearly responded two minutes later when Pramod Kumar Pandey made a brilliant leap to head goalwards but the DSK goalkeeper was upto the task as he collected neatly. Good goalkeeping from the visiting goalkeeper.

DSK started to push PIFA back with long spells of possession. They nearly scored a perfect goal when Lallianzuala B. Sohtun headed over after a brilliant and patient play from the visitors, with the move consisting of 20-25 passes before the final attempt.

DSK were turning on the style as Biaklian Paite and Chhangte Lalhriatpuia played a brilliant one two to open up the PIFA defence. But they were bailed out by the linesman who flagged for offside in the 29th minute.
Two minutes later, DSK strung together another brilliant move, which resulted in a cross from the right wing falling to Mawihmingthang whose sjot was deflected for a corner.

DSK were building from the back and showed great patience. Mawihmingthang was involved yet again when he was played through on goal but was denied by a brilliant save from the PIFA Colaba goalkeeper in the 31st minute.

Despite all the DSK dominance, they just led by a solitary goal. PIFA seemed to have weathered the storm and were pressing well to deny DSK spaces to play into as the game entered the final ten minutes of the half.

DSK were nearly jolted, as PIFA’s Deepak Mahindra ran into the DSK box totally unmarked and nearly got on the end of a cross from PIFA’s left flank, but for a timely intervention from the DSK goalkeeper Jeddi Haokip.

PIFA seemed to gain confidence from the chance as they started seeing more of the ball. Goal scorer Lallianzula B. Sohtun was booked for a professional foul as he brought down a counter attacking PIFA player who was running into the open spaces in the DSK half due to the visitors throwing players forward for a corner.

DSK’s goal was disallowed in the 44th minute for offside. It was yet another brilliant move from DSK Shivajians as they went into half time a goal to the good.
DSK were dominant team in the first half having controlled most of the play and creating plenty of chances to score, although they were guilty of overcooking the moves at times. PIFA did well to be just a goal behind and showed signs of threat in an absorbing half of football.

DSK struck early in the second half, with a goal in the 48th minute as Lallianzuala B. Sohtun got his second of the evening. It was a brilliant finish from the DSK No.75 as he coolly finished past the PIFA goalkeeper after after latching on to a chipped delivery from midfield.

It was a cruel blow for the home side so early in the half as DSK started to dominate again. Lallianzuala B. Sohtun who was looking for his hat-trick fired a free kick just over the crossbar in the 64th minute.

DSK replaced Biaklian Paite by Joel Fernandes in the 71st minute as the visitors pursued a third goal to kill the contest.
PIFA Colaba nearly pulled a goal back in the 78th minute, only to by a fine save from Jeddi Haokip, as he tipped over a cross which threatened to go in.

PIFA threw Pawan Singh into action in the 83rd minute, looking to reduce the deficit. But all the hopes of a PIFA Colaba revival were ended in the 84th minute when Lallianzuala B. Sohtun completed his hat-trick with a thumping strike from outside the box which flew past the PIFA goalkeeper.
In the 87th minute, Mawihmingthang’s effort took a horrible deflection, but fortunately for the hosts it flew wide of PIFA’s goal.

Mawihmingthang’s effort in the second minute of added time goes inches wide of the PIFA goal as DSK see off the remaining minutes to bag yet another victory in the Maharashtra Qualifying Zone of the U-19 I-League.

PIFA Colaba did well to be competitive against the best team of the group, but fell well short in the end.

DSK Shivajians head coach David Rodgers was happy to leave Cooperage with all three points as he believed his players had won a tough game.” It was a tough game. We played PIFA at home and won quite comfortably, but we always knew coming here would be a different challenge with their home support behind them and it turned out to be that way. But we are delighted we won and we will take it ahead from here”.

DSK Shivajians are top of the charts with five wins in the Maharashtra Qualifying zone of the U-19 I-League.

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Aryans Sports Foundation

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