Hyderabad FC will take on Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League at the Maidaan in Gachibowli on Tuesday, October 1. The Nawabs, led by skipper Alex Saji, have lost both the games they have played so far this season.
Their opponents, on the other hand, have won one out of their three matches, and this is bound to give them a slight advantage. However, they were soundly beaten by newly-promoted Mohammedan SC in their previous game at home.
The Nawabs will go into the international break after this match on Tuesday and hope to pick up all three points. They know that playing at home can give them an added push, and they will be banking on support from their fans.
Ahead of the encounter, defender Saji, who was named the captain of the club earlier this year, spoke to the media. In a freewheeling chat, the centre-back mentioned that the team is prepared for any challenges coming its way.
With Hyderabad having beaten Chennaiyin 1-0 in Chennai last season (in February 2024) in what was their sole victory of the campaign, confidence must be running high in the camp, and that is what Saji addressed.
“What happened in Chennai was in the previous season. What’s past is past. We do not want to stay in the past. Yes, we want to take confidence from that win, but a lot of players who were a part of the side are not with us anymore. There have been a lot of positives from the two games that we played this season, and we need to take them ahead with us,” said Saji.
“We will try to learn from the positives we had in those games. Chennaiyin FC are a big club, and we respect them. This match against them is not going to be easy for us, but we will give our 100 per cent,” he added.
“I am very thankful to the club management” – Alex Saji
The 24-year-old recently signed a contract extension which will keep him at the club till 2027, and this was a significant move on his part. This was also one of the first big deals the new ownership of the club put pen on paper to.
The 6ft 2inch-tall defender knows that he is extremely fortunate to be appointed the captain of the club at such a young age, and that he has a lot of learnings to accumulate. Surrounding himself with experienced players might be step number one.
“I am very thankful to the club management, backroom staff and coach (Thangboi Singto) for appointing me as the captain. He has known me since I was seventeen years old. We have a lot of experienced players in our team, and I can pick up things from them,” said Saji.
“Last season, we had Joao Victor, who was our captain, and I learnt a lot from him. Our club has a rich history, with the likes of Bart Ogbeche, Odei Onaindia and Victor who played and gained respect among the fans with their hard work. I have seen them and learnt from them a lot, and wish to contribute to the club this season,” he signed off.
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