The support of a substantial home crowd and a fervid build-up ended only in disappointment last week, when Bengaluru FC was denied victory by Dempo in the I-League season’s opening game. With a second home game coming before two potentially tricky away fixtures, BFC has the opportunity to secure first victory when it meets Pune FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday.
Pune took four points off BFC last season but that will not count for much, for the visitor’s squad wears a new look this time. “It’s hard to judge anything they’ve done in the past. They have new players and they’re a completely different animal,” said Ashley Westwood, the BFC head coach. “They have two new foreigners – the big number nine from Montenegro (Darko Nikac) and the lad from Portugal (Edgar Marcelino). I expect them to come here and try to win.”
BFC will be missing the central midfielder Josh Walker, which means that Westwood could again favour the 4-4-2 he did against Dempo.
Big expectationsPune’s coach, Karim Bencherifa, admitted that his side had kept the ball well but lacked cutting edge in front of goal in its 1-1 draw with Salgaocar last week. The seasoned Moroccan joined Pune at the start of this season and arrives with big expectations. “I want to make history with this group of players. I want to leave a mark. We want to be remembered 20 years down the line as the first Pune bunch to win a trophy,” he said.
The Portuguese midfielder Marcelino, who turned out for FC Goa in the ISL, is a doubt to feature because his registration may not be completed in time. Pune, will also miss the services of Anas Edathodika, Prakash Thorat and Lalrempuia Fanai. BFC appears the more settled side but Pune will be no pushover. “They’ve had a full squad pre-season,” Bencherifa said of BFC. “It’s an advantage they have over other teams. It’s what gives them an edge.”
