Khalid Jamil confident to get over'Semi-Final' curse in Kalinga Super Cup

Jamshedpur FC have made it to their third consecutive Super Cup Semifinals.

Khalid Jamil’s Jamshedpur FC would be keen to make it to the finals of the Kalinga Super Cup with a win over Mumbai City FC. The Red Miners are coming after wins over Hyderabad FC and North East United FC so far. Khalid Jamil’s record against Mumbai City FC has been impeccable, with the Steel City-based outfit completing a double over Petr Kratky’s side.

Despite reaching back-to-back semi-finals, Jamshedpur FC have never made it to the finals of any major tournament. After two back-to-back defeats against Bengaluru FC and East Bengal in the previous two editions of the Super Cup, the Red Miners recently suffered another semi-final heartbreak against Mohun Bagan in the ISL.

Ahead of the all-important semi-final clash, here’s what coach Khalid Jamil and goalkeeper Amrit Gope said before the match.

Will Khalid continue his record against the Islanders?

Khalid Jamil’s performance against Mumbai City FC has been nothing less than incredible. From scripting a 3-2 win over the Islanders last season to completing a domestic double over Mumbai, Khalid has emerged as a nightmare for the Islanders. Ahead of the match against Mumbai, Khalid acknowledged Mumbai’s strength.

He said, “Yes, tomorrow we play the semi-final, and Mumbai City FC is a very good team. Especially in their last two matches, they’ve performed really well. They have quality players and play good attacking football. We have to be alert and give our best. It’s going to be a challenging game.”

Is Jamshedpur’s defence becoming impenetrable?

Despite those 5-0 defeats in the ISL, Jamshedpur FC’s defence in the Super Cup has covered all the loopholes brilliantly to emerge as a solid unit. They have not conceded a single goal so far in the competition and also managed to keep a clean sheet against North East, which boasted strikers like Ajaraei and Guillermo.

Khalid said, “Yes, we had a tough phase during the regular season of the ISL, especially in the middle of the campaign. Some results didn’t go our way, but we’ve worked hard to rectify our mistakes. The players have shown maturity and experience. They understand how to handle pressure now, and all credit goes to them for staying united and giving everything for the team.”

Indian coaches are breaking the ceiling in the big games.

Khalid Jamil has truly done the unthinkable. From winning the I-League with Aizawl FC to taking Jamshedpur FC and North East United FC into the ISL Semi-Finals, Khalid is truly leading by example that Indian coaches are nowhere behind the foreign ones.

Khalid added, “Yes, it’s very important for Indian coaches to be part of these top-level tournaments. It builds confidence. But it’s not just about getting the opportunity – you have to keep working hard, stay prepared, and make the most of it when the chance comes.”

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