Holicharan to miss early part of ISL

NEUFC leave city tomorrow to meet Kerala Blasters

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 1: Holicharan rzary, the energetic striker of Assam, will miss few matches in the early stage of the Indian Soccer League (ISL). Holicharan, who will turn up for NorthEast United FC  (NEUFC)  this season, had recently under gone surgery to remove appendicitis and are now in recovery stage. The footballer needs a couple of weeks more before he gets back his strength properly.

Disclosing the news to the media persons Santosh Kashyap, the assistant coach of NEUFC, said Holicharan is recovering well and are expected to return into the ground very soon.

NEUFC will start its campaign in the 2nd edition of the ISL on October 6 with an away match against Kerala Blasters FC at Kochi. The team will leave the city on Saturday to play the match. During this tour the side will play two away matches, second one against FC Pune City, before return into the city in the second week for their first home match which is scheduled to be held on October 15 against FC Goa.

In the first season, the city based side finished the 8-team championship at number eight spot. However Kashyap is optimistic that this time his side would perform much better than the first season. He also added that team's ultimate goal is to lift the title. Replying a query the assistant coach said, "This season we are much better side and we have also prepared ourselves nicely. The team played quality football during pre-season tour at South Africa. So I am optimistic and can assure you that we will try hard to win the title."

Kashyap felt that as an opponent all seven teams are equally tough for them. "Until the tourment kicks off and we don't see the performance of other sides it is very difficult to say which team is strong and who are the week. So right now I think all seven opponents are equally tough and we have to play good soccer to beat them.

Meanwhile, Kashyap has found good prospect in local boy Alen Deuri who will turn out for NEUFC for second consecutive season. " Allen, is shaping up  very well and he has a very good prospect in the game," added the man who guided Royal Wahingdoh FC to the I-League from the second tier.