PKL 10: We are ready for playoffs battle, says Patna Pirates coach

The Steelers recorded a marvelous win that takes them to the playoffs.

Haryana Steelers defeated the Patna Pirates by a 39-32 score at the Tau Devilal Indoor Stadium in Panchkula on 16 February to confirm their playoff spot in the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League season 10 (PKL 10). With this win, the lineup for the playoffs is complete as the Steelers become the final team to book a berth.

Siddharth Desai (12) delivered a majestic performance for the Haryana Steelers while Rohit (8) scored the highest points for the Pirates which gave rest to their core group of players. The mood was expectedly warm in the post-match press conference amongst the representatives of the Haryana Steelers as they secured playoff qualification at their home leg of all places.

Here are the excerpts from the conversation with both franchises: 

Happy to secure playoffs qualification – Manpreet Singh

Manpreet Singh, head coach of the Haryana Steelers, was elated to deliver playoff qualification and that too in front of their home crowd. He said, “We are really happy to have secured qualification for the playoffs after playing in our home leg. Starting the home leg with a win is a major step in the right direction too.”

Watch the full Press Conference here

High praise for the coach

Mohit Nandal of the Steelers was full of praise for the coach in the post-match press conference. He said, “The impact of our coach has been extremely motivating. He gave us the freedom to express our game on the kabaddi floor and told us to play without any restrictions. He gave us instructions and also incorporated our personal opinions into the strategy, which created a special bond between us.”

Patna Pirates’ Anil Chaprana on mistakes in defence

While the tactician gave credit to his defenders, he also pointed out how some mistakes in the department caused the team to give away cheap points. He said, “The team played well today, we had given a chance to the younger players to show their quality. Our defence did brilliantly to stop a strong raider like Siddharth Desai but a few mistakes here and there cost us a few points and eventually the match.”

Ready for the playoffs

The tactician of the Patna Pirates indicated that the side is mentally ready for the crucial playoffs by saying, “There is a lot of confidence in the players ahead of the playoffs. They are ready for the next stage of the league. No matter what opponent stands against us, we are ready to face them head-on and perform to the best of our abilities.”

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