Jamshedpur FC chief executive officer Mukul Choudhari is optimistic of a stellar show in the seventh edition of Indian Super League (ISL) starting in Goa on November 20.

Jamshedpur FC will launch their campaign against Chennaiyin FC at Tilak Maidan in Goa on November 24.

According to the schedule, the Tata Steel-owned club will then cross swords with Odisha FC at Tilak Maidan on November 29 in their second outing followed by the encounter versus Hyderabad FC at the same venue on December 2.

With an enviable side in place and a top-notch coach to guide the players during the energy-sapping encounters ahead, Choudhari has reasons to believe that Jamshedpur has a bright prospect in the cash-rich league.

“We are highly hopeful of a solid show in the league. The preparations have been good. We reached Goa early and utilised time for the much-needed training. We have worked hard to add some very good players in the squad. So, there is lot of optimism on the prospects of the team,” he reasoned.

On the pandemic and would the enforced isolation affect the mental set-up of players, Choudhari said the guidelines was meant for other teams as well. “Circumstances were not normal in Covid times. We were consigned to our hotel rooms soon after reaching Goa. Communication was only on telephone and that was quite difficult. There was a fitness gap during isolation but now the players were doing really well and following the Covid guidelines,” the JFC CEO said over phone from Goa.

Choudhari informed that the players were in fine fettle and there was no fitness worries. “Training is underway and the players are working out well under head coach Owen Coyle . There was intensity (in training) from the beginning. Players are fit and there’s no niggles as such,” he added.

According to him, Owen Coyle has come on board with an excellent track record and is a man who handles man management very well. “He (Coyle) made a turnaround for Chennaiyin FC after taking charge mid-way. Propelling a team from the bottom to top speaks volumes about his caliber as a coach. Coyle motivates the boys and is very dedicated. We are very hopeful of a good show under him,” Choudhari said.

On the team, he said besides the foreign recruits, Indian players of the likes of Jackichand Singh, Narender Gahlot, Jiendra Singh, Mobashir Rahman, Amarjit Singh Kiyam to name a few have the required firepower to excel in crunch situations. “Tata Football Academy graduates Sandip Mandi and Vishal Yadav are the findings for them,” he remarked.

Choudhari said they were working to build an eco system for football in Jharkhand through JFC. “In fact, the basic objective of Jamshedpur FC is to work in that direction. Our grassroots programmes has won accolades from various quarters. We have included schools under the training ambit and are giving scientific training to the wannabe footballers. We have also created a pool of coaches and the process is on,” he explained.

Choudhari stated that the process was long term and the goal is to promote meritorious Jharkhand players.

He said they would miss the Jamshedpur fans this time. “I would like to appeal to the fans to continue to support us just as they do when we play in Jamshedpur. We really need their support in Goa,” he signed off.