Nagaland United SC set for historic home debut against Gokulam Kerala FC

Nagaland United SC play their first home match in the Indian Football league when they welcome leaders Gokulam Kerala FC to the Chümoukedima Football Stadium in Dimapur on Saturday.

Buoyant FC Bengaluru take on Real Kashmir FC at home in the Indian Football League

Nagaland United SC will play in front of their own supporters for the first time and the debutants are fifth with three points from one match, and a win would draw them level on points with the leaders.

Nagaland had scored a 3-1 win over Real Kashmir

That single match was a 3-1 victory over Real Kashmir in Srinagar on October 30. JH Remlala scored in the third minute and Vanlalhriatzuala K doubled the lead in the 21st. Real Kashmir pulled one back through an own goal in the 59th minute before Vanlalhriatzuala, named Man of the Match, restored the two-goal cushion in the 74th.

Speaking ahead of the club’s first home match, head coach Kaizad Ambapardiwalla said: “Winning our IFL debut against Real Kashmir has given the players confidence and belief, but we understand that every match brings a new challenge. Gokulam Kerala FC are a quality side with experience, and we expect them to be well-organised, physically strong and dangerous in key moments.

Nagaland United SC captain Rohmingthanga said the occasion carried meaning well beyond the result

“Playing our first-ever IFL home match in Nagaland is a matter of great pride and responsibility, and our primary focus is on maintaining our discipline, managing the tempo and fighting for a positive result.”

Captain Rohmingthanga said the occasion carried meaning well beyond the result. “I thank God for our away win in Kashmir, and while the dressing room mood is good, one win is just a start,” said Rohmingthanga.

“As captain, my job is to make sure the boys don’t feel the pressure, but feel the pride, because this is not just 90 minutes – this is history for Nagaland. We want to make our home a fortress, and we will give everything for this badge and this state to make our supporters proud,” he added.

Gokulam Kerala FC top the table

Two-time champions Gokulam Kerala FC top the table with six points from two matches. Head coach Carlos Eduardo Parreira’s side won 1-0 against 10-man Rajasthan United FC in Jaipur last Saturday. Brazilian forward Crislan Da Silva reacted first to a looping clearance in the 68th minute and lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. The trip to Chümoukedima is the latest in a run of five consecutive away matches.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Gokulam Kerala FC head coach Carlos Eduardo Parreira acknowledged the challenge of facing a motivated debutant side backed by a vocal home crowd but emphasized his squad’s title ambitions.

Gokulam Kerala FC’s Ghanaian forward Dennis Antwi echoed the confident mood within the dressing room as they chase a third consecutive victory

“We had a good preparation coming off a strong away win, and we want to keep this good momentum going,” Carlos Eduardo Parreira said. “Nagaland had a very good game against Real Kashmir away, and since it will be their first match at home, we know they will come very strong against us with the support behind them. Our players are experienced and know how to deal with these situations.”

Outlining the club’s objectives, Parreira added: “Since we started the season, we have been preparing the team to finish in the top three and potentially be champions. If we want to be champions, we need to win these away games. We know it will be very tough to play here, but to continue our plans, we need to get these three points.”

Gokulam Kerala FC’s Ghanaian forward Dennis Antwi echoed the confident mood within the dressing room as they chase a third consecutive victory. “The team is very motivated,” Dennis Antwi said. “We are very happy to have won two games in a row, but we remain focused, and tomorrow we hope to keep the winning momentum going.”

This will be the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.

With FC Bengaluru United and Real Kashmir FC both desperate to climb the table, and Nagaland United SC aiming to mark their historic home debut with a win against league leaders Gokulam Kerala FC, Saturday’s double-header promises plenty of action and emotion.