Ray Sportz Web Desk: FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez expressed confidence as his side prepares to face Iraq’s Al-Zawraa FC in their AFC Champions League Two group-stage opener on Wednesday.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Marquez said qualifying for the group stage was an important milestone for the club. “It was a very important win for the club, the players and the fans. Now we can enjoy six very good games and we will try our best in every match,” he said.
The coach admitted that the absence of star defender Sandesh Jhingan is a blow but assured that the team has capable replacements. “We will play with 11 players. We have a strong centre-back ready to step in, and we are very confident,” he said.
Midfielder Sahil Tabora said the squad is eager to get off to a strong start. “We have prepared physically and mentally over the past month. Playing at home is an advantage and we want to make the fans proud,” he said.
Marquez described Al-Zawraa as a strong side with quality foreign players but insisted FC Goa will have their chances. “Football is about defence, attack, transitions and set-pieces — no more secrets. If we manage these situations well, we can win,” he said.
The Gaurs will look to begin their campaign with a positive result and build momentum for the remaining five group games.

Ray Sportz Web Desk: Indian men’s football head coach Khalid Jamil has announced a 30-member probables squad for the October FIFA International Window, in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers against Singapore.
The preparatory camp begins in Bengaluru on September 20, with players from Mohun Bagan SG and FC Goa joining later after their AFC Champions League Two commitments. Five players have also been kept on standby, with their names to be revealed later.
India will face Singapore twice — away on October 9 at the National Stadium, Singapore, and at home on October 14 at the PJN Stadium, Margao. The final squad for these fixtures will be selected from the probables.
Veterans like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Rahul Bheke feature in the list, alongside promising youngsters such as Irfan Yadwad, Parthib Gogoi, and Muhammed Suhail.

“We Are Here to Get Three Points” – Turkmenistan Coach Ahead of Mohun Bagan Clash

Ray Sportz Web Desk: The city is buzzing with football fever as Turkmenistan’s national team prepares to take on Mohun Bagan in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Speaking to reporters just hours after landing in Kolkata, the visiting team’s coach exuded confidence and praised India’s warm hospitality.
Q: Coach, first of all, welcome to India. How do you feel about this country on your first visit?
Coach: Thank you for the warm welcome. This is our first time in India and we really like this country. Turkmenistan considers India a brotherly nation. The weather is hot and a little humid, but that’s okay. We are in training mode, so the adaptation is fine for us.
Q: Have you seen any matches of Mohun Bagan before coming here?
Coach: Yes, we have. We watched some of their recent matches, analyzed their strengths and weaknesses. We know the good and bad sides of Mohun Bagan. Our players are ready, and we have come here to get three points.
Q: Your national teams have played here before. Did you speak to them about conditions in India?
Coach: We didn’t discuss Mohun Bagan with them, because they faced different opponents. We just asked about general things like hotels, food, weather, and pitch conditions.
Q: You will be playing in front of 40,000 Mohun Bagan fans. How do you see that affecting your players?
Coach: We are not worried. It’s not the first time we are playing against strong teams with big crowds. We trust our players. They are like 11 warriors on the field. The fans will be there, but we are ready.
Q: Mohun Bagan will have three players who have represented Australia in the FIFA World Cup. How do you plan to stop them?
Coach: We have seen their games. We will stop them — if we don’t, there will be no players left! (laughs) We respect them, but we trust in our own team’s strength. And let Mohun Bagan try to stop our forwards too.
Q: Any plans apart from football — sightseeing, food, or exploring Kolkata?
Coach: Our first plan is football — winning this match. If we have time after the game, we would love to visit historical places and explore this beautiful city.
The Turkmenistan coach’s words made it clear — his team is here with one mission: to beat Mohun Bagan and take home three points. Kolkata awaits a high-voltage clash.