Thangboi Singto: It's a good time to play against Mohun Bagan

Thangboi Singto’s Hyderabad FC will be playing away from home due to state elections in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad FC will be up against Mohun Bagan in their next Indian Super League assignment. The match is to take place at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha instead of Hyderabad due to the state elections in the latter state. Thangboi Singto, head coach of the Nizams, remains upbeat about his team’s chances of winning as the search for the first win of 2023-24 season continues.

He spoke in the pre-match press conference about playing away from home despite it being a home fixture for Hyderabad FC and more. He was joined by Mohammed Yasir who also interacted with the media personnel and provided his opinions on various topics ahead of the game.

Here are the excerpts from the conversation:

Playing in Odisha

Thangboi Singto expressed that it would have been advantageous if Hyderabad FC were playing in their home stadium. “Playing at home would have been great against Mohun Bagan Super Giant because it’s always an advantage. We want to do something good for the fans playing at our stadium which is our fortress,” he said as state elections in Hyderabad force the Nizams to play at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Staying positive

The tactician believes that his team knows what steps they need to collectively take and that the first win of the season is right around the corner. “I think we are still very positive in the sense that we know what we have to do as a team, what we have to do as players and coaches, and we are doing it. I think the only thing is about the result which is going to come,” he said in the context of Hyderabad FC still waiting for their first win of the season.

Good time to face the Mariners

Speaking about the opponents that have won all of their ISL fixtures yet, Thangboi Singto said that it is a good time to face them. Signalling their two consecutive defeats in the AFC Cup, he said, “Speaking about Mohun Bagan Super Giant, it is a team full of stars but I was watching the last match in the AFC Cup against Odisha FC. I think it’s a good time to play them.” 

For context, Mohun Bagan lost to Odisha FC by a 5-2 scoreline in their recent AFC Cup contest.

Mohammad Yasir on being more clinical

Hyderabad FC could not find the back of the net against Kerala Blasters in the previous match and lost by a 1-0 score. Speaking about needing to be clinical in the final third, Yasir said, “We are doing well in training and we are upset about the result from the last match. As a team, we created a lot of chances in the last game. So, we need to improve in that aspect (finishing the chances).”

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