The Indian Super League (ISL) team Odisha FC is set to make their Super Cup debut against 2018 runners-up East Bengal FC at the Payyanad Stadium in Manjeri, Kerala, on Sunday.
After four seasons in the Hero ISL, Odisha FC finally managed to qualify for the play-offs in sixth place, but they were defeated 0-2 by eventual champions ATK Mohun Bagan. The Super Cup will present the Odisha boys with another opportunity to clinch their first silverware. For the winners, a club playoff slot for the AFC Cup will also be available, which has garnered interest from Odisha FC head coach Clifford Miranda.
“The AFC Cup slot is very important, so we want to give our best like all the other 16 teams that are vying for that place,” Miranda said. “There are no easy teams in this league-plus-knockout tournament. We’ve had two training sessions so far, and we are trying to adapt to the Kerala heat, but the conditions are the same for all teams,” Miranda added.
The Odisha FC supporters and the head coach Miranda were thrilled by the ISL Golden Boot winner Diego Mauricio’s recent contract renewal. They will be anticipating more of his heroics in the Super Cup and for the squad to win their first trophy at the upcoming competition.
“We would love to have Diego repeat his Hero ISL performances here in Kerala—not just in terms of scoring goals but also working for the team as a unit,” Miranda added. Odisha FC and East Bengal FC played out two thrilling encounters in the ISL this season, both of which went the former’s way (4-2 in Kolkata and 3-1 in Bhubaneswar). The fans will be in for another fascinating encounter between two teams that will be looking to finish strong and gain some consistency.