After two consecutive defeats, Sreebhumi FC returned to a winning streak with a 3-0 triumph against Garhwal United in the IWL at Kalyani Stadium on Tuesday morning. The match was delayed for almost an hour due to heavy fog.
Toijam Chanu drew first blood for the winners in the 56th minute, while Anju Kayenpoibam doubled the lead in the 79th minute, and Anju Tamang struck the third one in the 91st minute.
Sreebhumi FC fielded their first foreign defender from Ghana in the match. She did not frustrate the management in her debut, although the coach Sujata Kar said, “She has just arrived. Naturally, she will take time to settle. I am expecting she will be able to deliver her best in the second phase of the League.”
The club management has reportedly planned to rope in a foreign striker and midfielder for their campaign in the second phase of the League. The team’s coach, however, revealed, “We have a quality forward line. So I do not need a foreign striker. Till now, I am happy with the Ghanaian defender.”
When asked about the team’s performance in the first phase, Kar asserted, “I am not much bothered about our show in the first phase. Rather, I am eying the second and final phase. We need to take off with a consistent show there to win the title.”
Sreebhumi, now in fourth spot with nine points from five matches, appears determined to secure three points with a win against NITA FA in their next crucial group league match. Sreebhumi is currently fourth in the table; gaining three points would bring their total to twelve, which could move them into the top three by the end of the first phase, depending on other results. Considering the importance of the match, the team’s Technical Director, Shukla Dutta, feels, “NITA has been consistent so far in the League, and their India international, Pyari Xaxa, has scored in all of their matches so far. So, I feel, she is the key player to be noticed,” said Dutta.
The coach, however, explained, “They have been consistent. Still, performance varies in every match. So, I should not be specific that NITA will be able to carry out the same performance as they did in the previous match. I will see their Tuesday’s match and then only design our plan and assess who among them can be the key player against us.”
Due to the Indian women’s team’s participation in the under-20 and senior Asian Cup Women’s championship, IWL will take a two-month break and resume on 20th April. Sreebhumi FC will have to release 11 footballers for the under-20 and senior Indian women’s preparatory camp.
