Panaji: You could have heard of FK Arkadag. The membership was based by former Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and since their direct entry into the highest tier league, Yokary Liga, in 2023, the membership has not dropped a single league level.Arkadag have received each league and cup match in Turkmenistan over the previous three seasons — 99 in whole – and can now face FC Goa within the AFC Champions League Two playoff on the Arkadag Stadium on Wednesday.Arkadag are additionally one of the vital secretive and mysterious groups in world soccer, so it ought to shock no one that footage of their league matches just isn’t obtainable. This season, they’ve received all 14 matches and have a purpose distinction of +51.“We’ve got tried to arrange primarily based on their matches in final season’s ACL 2,” coach Gouramangi Singh informed TOI earlier than the workforce left for Turkmenistan with halts in Delhi, Turkey and Ashgabat. “With no matter little analysis we might do on them, we noticed that the gamers are related (this season), similar coach. This was the perfect we might do.”Arkadag made it to the spherical of 16 in final season’s ACL2 earlier than succumbing to the would possibly of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr FC. They misplaced video games at residence and away 1-0.“Towards Al-Nassr, Arkadag performed with 5 on the again, and it’s not how they normally play. They had been defensive towards a stronger aspect. Towards us, I anticipate them to play a traditional 4-2-3-1, a mode they use after they play groups of comparable energy. We will likely be examined to the restrict, it will likely be robust, and we’ve got to be able to undergo,” mentioned Gouramangi, the primary home coach for the Goan membership.Final season, Gouramangi was seated subsequent to teach Manolo Marquez on the bench and celebrated wildly when Goa put it throughout Oman champions Al Seeb within the playoff to make it to the ACL 2 group stage.The present workforce is totally unrecognisable from the one which triumphed final season.There’s simply captain Sandesh Jhingan and Udanta Singh remaining from the regulars. 4 new overseas gamers have arrived; two of them – Franchu and Alex Vallejo – skilled for every week in Goa, Spanish striker Chiki had only one coaching session whereas defender Alex Zalaya joins the workforce immediately in Turkmenistan.Within the absence of Mohammad Yasir, pressured to coach with the reserves since he’s not a part of the plans, and Akash Sangwan, who, at his personal request, parted methods with the membership earlier than finish of final season, Gouramangi should financial institution on newcomers Isak Vanlalruatfela and Tomba Singh. Bob Jackson may very well be first selection in purpose.“We have to keep collectively until the tip,” mentioned Gouramangi. “We don’t have aggressive video games beneath our belt and the entire workforce has not skilled collectively for lengthy too. I strongly consider we may have our moments (towards Arkadag). We’ve got some boys who, if they’ll rise as much as the event, end three-four probabilities that we get, possibly we are able to spring a shock in Turkmenistan.”
