Confident Jamshedpur FC to cross swords with Odisha FC at the Furnace

Head coach Aidy Boothroyd says they have an overriding feeling for the match after a long time

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Oct 10: Jamshedpur FC will not leave any stone unturned when they square up against Odisha FC as they launch their Indian Super League  2022-23 season campaign at the full house JRD Tata Sports Complex on Tuesday evening.

The Aidy Boothroyd-coached side would also like to take advantage of the home ground in front of vociferous supporters who will be back at the Furnace after a two-year haitus. The crowd would surely put the Covid-19 pandemic in the past and look to walk back home with memories of a win.

But that’s easier said than done since Odisha are no easy opponents and would also like to start their campaign ona winning note.

Jamshedpur head coach Aidy Boothroyd was thoughtful but nevertheless confident about Tuesday’s encounter and said they had a brilliant preseason and everybody was happy. “We have an overriding feeling for the game after a long time really. We trained at the Furnace a few time earlier and the surface looks very nice. We had a brilliant preseasons, there’s not injury concern. Everybody is excited and looking forward to the match,” he said at a pre-match press meet at the media hall of  JRD Tata Sports Complex on Monday afternoon.

Boothroyd added his side would try and do all the hard work to emulate last season’s success. “We won the League Winners’ Shield in Goa last season and would try to emulate that feat. The boys and excited and fit to take on our opponents,” he said.

On the stress factor, Boothroyd pointed out that the “more you work more you can be stress-free. We had an organized preseasons and that should work out well when it comes to being stress-free. Touch wood, we had a brilliant preseason and the boys are looking forward to the match with a confident frame of mind. I am also very much confident about tomorrow’s outcome,” the head coach said

Boothroyd’s Odisha counterpart Josep Gombau said he was confident about their performance and would like to put in a solid show in their opening away tie. “I’m confident about my team which has some very good players. We’ll try and put up a solid performance in Tuesday’s encounter,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Furnace is all ready and decked up to suit the big ocassion. The sand-based surface is green and soft with the Bermuda grass. Worker’s were busy giving last minute touches on Monday afternoon. Over 21,000 tickets have so far been sold for Tuesday’s battle.

The match kick-starts at 7.30 pm.