![\"I-League-Mumai-FC\"](\"https:\/\/indiansportsnews.co.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/I-League-Mumai-FC.jpg\")
New Delhi: Round 1 of the Hero I-League season, with the country\u2019s two best teams in contention, a newly laid natural turf, a bigger capacity stadium, LED infused floodlight \u2013 the football-loving fans of the Garden City couldn\u2019t have asked for a better weekend!<\/p>\n
A very similar position for the host Bengaluru FC too! After winning the I-League last season, they won the Hero Federation Cup few weeks back outdoing the same rival.<\/p>\n
Bengaluru FC proved to be a tormentor for India\u2019s best football club for the past decade, Dempo Sports Club. They have defeated them in the past three occasions.<\/p>\n
Coach Ashley Westwood feels his boys have worked on their fitness level in last 5 months and conditioned well for a long season. \u201cOther than Joshua Walker, who picked up an injury in the Federation Cup finals, the rest of the team looks fine. We are in great form, only hope to be consistent, and carry forward to the rest of the season\u201d, says the coach.<\/p>\n
For the 5-time champions Dempo, it will be a bumpy start to the race. They have few injury concerns \u2013 Afghanistan international Haroon Fakhruddin has been ruled out and Tolgay Ozbey and Clifford appears to be a doubtful for tomorrow\u2019s match.<\/p>\n
Dempo captain believes that the JSW-promoted club from Bangalore holds advantage, \u201cBengaluru FC is playing at home, the best team in the country at this moment, and the Hero Federation Cup champion\u201d, said the India international.<\/p>\n
Clifford did not reveal much on Dempo\u2019s strategy for the game rather it is up to Coach Arthur Papas\u2019 plate. But his team is not intimidated, \u201cDespite of all concerns, we still have 11 players to play\u201d, affirms Clifford.<\/p>\n
The match between Bengaluru FC and Dempo Sports Club is slated to start tomorrow, Saturday, 7 PM, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Delhi: Round 1 of the Hero I-League season, with the country\u2019s two best teams in contention, a newly laid natural turf, a bigger capacity stadium, LED infused floodlight \u2013 the football-loving fans of the Garden City couldn\u2019t have asked for a better weekend!<\/p>\n
A very similar position for the host Bengaluru FC too! After winning the I-League last season, they won the Hero Federation Cup few weeks back outdoing the same rival.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-football"],"yoast_head":"\n