NEUFC eye winning start to their Durand campaign
NorthEast United FC
face off against Malaysian Armed Forces FT to kick off their season at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Saturday.
While the Malaysian Armed Forces will be their first opponents,
NEUFC
will also be facing their other Group E rivals in two Shillong clubs in Shillong Lajong FC and Rangdajied United FC in their next matches.
After an unbeaten run in the previous edition, Juan Pedro Benali's men will be eager to replicate that feat, starting with a win against the visitors, who were thrashed 6-0 by Shillong Lajong in their opener.
"The team has been working diligently over the past three weeks, and we hope we're well-prepared and focused for our opening match against the Malaysian Armed Forces," Benali said at the pre-match press conference in Shillong on Friday.
"It's the first final we have to play if we want to defend our title."
Alaaeddine Ajaraie, last season's ISL Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner, will once again be crucial to NEUFC's fortunes, along with last season's Durand Cup Player of the Tournament, Jithin MS. The trio of new Spanish recruits — Jairo Samperio, Chema Nunez and Andy Rodriguez — will add to Benali's options in attack and midfield.
Golden Glove winner last time, Gurmeet Singh, will hope to start with a cleansheet aided by a defence led by captain Michel Zabaco and the likes of Asheer Akhtar, Tondonba Singh, Buanthanglun Samte, Robin Yadav, Dinesh Singh, Redeem Tlang and Bekey Oram adding to the depth in the backline.
The rest will depend on Spaniard Benali's tactical acumen as NEUFC will look to script an even better season for the Highlanders' fans.
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