Pune FC hope to continue winning ways

Pune, Feb 4 (PTI) Fresh from their first home win lastweek, Pune FC would like to continue their winning ways whenthey take on Indian Arrows in a 13th round I-League match atthe Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi tomorrow.

The home side, however, is cautious as the AIFF outfit,too, is high on confidence after recording their first awaywin, against Viva Kerala in Kannur.

Desmond Bulpin''s squad comprises of players who are partof India''s under-23 Olympic team and are in the final stagesof preparations ahead of their pre-Olympic qualifier to beheld later this month.

Local coach Derrick Pereira said, "They (Indian Arrows)are a young team, very energetic and fitter than other teams.

The team is more or less modelled around the senior India sideso that''s the only idea we have about the team."

The home side currently occupies the tenth position with11 points, while Indian Arrows are two rungs higher in eighthplace with 13 points. A win for either will mean moving intothe top-half of the league standings, but for that, Pune FCwill need to put all their experience to good effect.

With both teams achieving victories in their previousgames, both will also be hoping to extend their respectiveruns. For Pune FC, the 4-0 win over JCT in the previous roundended a six-match winless run. On the other hand, IndianArrows ended a five-match losing run in away games.

"The win (against JCT) was needed to boost the team, butwe need to work harder than before, stay focused if we are tomake the best out of the result we had in the previous match,"Pereira said.

For Pune FC, defender Selwyn Fernandes returns to theside after serving a one-match suspension, while the midfieldgets back K Ajayan, who missed the last match due to personalreasons.

"I don''t like to disturb winning combinations and willstick to the same combinations that played before. The goodthing is that all are fit, and options are aplenty," addedPereira.