MARGAO: The transformation of Adil Khan from a central defender to an attacking midfielder wouldn’t come at a more appropriate time for Sporting Clube de Goa, who are engrossed in a battle against the drop.
Soccer pundits have analysed that Sporting’s non-functional midfield under deposed coach Roy Baretto largely attributed to the present depressing situation for the Goan outfit.
Crooked and unshaped pattern meant Sporting allowed their opponents to have a ball on their own floor. When Vishwas Gaonkar stepped in, his new combo of Adil-Bibiano have augured well so far with the only reversal coming against Dempo but Adil Khan who had netted three vital goals in his new role had surprised one and all with his enterprising performance and the former Sesa FA trainee firmly believed that Sporting are very much in it. “Why should we think negative? It’s not the end for us. We lost to Dempo and that doesn’t mean we’re dead. Dempo is very strong and the toughest side in the league.We did extremely well in netting a goal, keeping everybody in check in the first session but they’ve got quality players and Beto is exceptional. His goals made all the difference. We were at least good for a point, it could be vital for us, unfortunately it didn’t happen,” Adil described on the present gloom and the heartbreaking loss to Dempo.
Beto’s winner on the buzzer inflicted a painful defeat and snapped a three match winning streak but Adil Khan felt that his team-mates had taken enough positives from the cracker and although Sporting had to win the remaining four to stay afloat Adil felt it’s not an improbable task.
“We all feel that we can do it, others who are above us are not entirely out of sight. We’ve to take one match at a time, we’ve to double up and put everything into it, our opponents in the remaining rounds are not incredible, they’re beatable and I am sure we’ll do it,” Adil explained to ‘The Navhind Times’ during the Salgaocar memorial veterans soccer tournament at Nagoa grounds.
Sporting have to flourish any how in the remaining outings against East Bengal (Salt Lake), Mahindra United (Fatorda), Pune FC (Balewadi) and Chirag United (Salt Lake), which is a tall task by any means but the Goans having limited options can only sneak out of trouble with a rock solid determination and commitment of the players. “We had a purpose, an obligation in the remaining part of the league, it may be rigid but not impossible and everyone are ready for it,” expressed Adil, and the bravado of the Goa skipper for the Lusofonia Games in Portugal could be heartening as well as encouraging, and Sporting Clube will need it in plenty in the coming days.
