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Dempo coach opts out of I-League title race
Dempo coach Armando Colaco has opted out of the I-League title race lest they get "distracted" from their goal of conquering Asia.
New Delhi:
For someone who has won domestic football's premier championships for two successive seasons, it should be normal to chase a hat-trick, but Dempo coach Armando Colaco has opted out of the I-League title race lest they get "distracted" from their goal of conquering Asia.
Dempo became the first Indian club to progress to the semi-finals of the AFC Cup when they defeated Home United 4-3 in Singapore.
"My priority right now is the AFC Cup semi-finals against Safa Club of Lebanon (on October 7 and 21). I don't want to spend time on the I-league. I don't want it to be a distraction," Indian football's most celebrated coach in recent times said from Goa on Friday.
"Everybody knows Dempo in India. Now we want to make a name for ourselves in Asia. Earlier, it was all about Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, but now the tables have turned and Dempo's here to make waves.
"If we make it to the final of the AFC Cup, then it will be a great thing for Indian football," said the coach who doesn't mince his words.
The I-League is starting from Friday in Kolkata and Goa simultaneously and the Dempo coach opted to keep his team out of the title race.
"I would be happy if we manage to stay afloat in the I-league. I don't want to go down to the second division," said the coach of the defending champions.
Dempo became the first Indian club to progress to the semi-finals of the AFC Cup when they defeated Home United 4-3 in Singapore.
"My priority right now is the AFC Cup semi-finals against Safa Club of Lebanon (on October 7 and 21). I don't want to spend time on the I-league. I don't want it to be a distraction," Indian football's most celebrated coach in recent times said from Goa on Friday.
"Everybody knows Dempo in India. Now we want to make a name for ourselves in Asia. Earlier, it was all about Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, but now the tables have turned and Dempo's here to make waves.
"If we make it to the final of the AFC Cup, then it will be a great thing for Indian football," said the coach who doesn't mince his words.
The I-League is starting from Friday in Kolkata and Goa simultaneously and the Dempo coach opted to keep his team out of the title race.
"I would be happy if we manage to stay afloat in the I-league. I don't want to go down to the second division," said the coach of the defending champions.
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