Real Kashmir FC’s first match at home today

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 5

The long wait of the football fans of the Valley will finally be over on Tuesday as their favourite team Real Kashmir FC is all set to take on Churchill Brothers Sports Club at the TRC ground.

This will be the first I-League match of Real Kashmir FC before the home crowd after its dream debut last week in the highest division of league football where it stunned the defending champions Minerva Punjab FC by a solitary goal. This will also be first time that a match played here will be telecast live by Star Sports Channel.

“It is a historic day tomorrow. Our first home game and the first I-League game in Kashmir. This is a huge event. It is going to be a tough game,” said Real Kashmir coach David Robertson.

He said playing on the home ground might put some pressure on the team. “We are up against a very famous team (Churchill Brothers). It is not going to be easy… last week it was a hard game. Playing at home adds to the pressure as many locals will come to watch it. There will be many expectations,” said Robertson.

Real Kashmir FC, which had caught the fancy of the football world over the past two years, remained in the news for battling odds to get promoted to the I-League. Besides attracting global attention, Real Kashmir had took part in a training camp in Germany earlier this year and has even roped in Adidas as its kit sponsor.

An official of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association said it was for the first time that a match played here would be telecast live globally. He also said they were giving final touches to the TRC ground after Saturday’s snowfall. “We are looking forward to an exciting game… we are giving finishing touches to the facilities at the venue after the recent snowfall,” he said.