Bengaluru FC makes their Hero Indian Super League [ISL] debut against Mumbai City FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday. Rahul Bheke, who has played with Kerala Blasters FC and FC Pune City in the past, will be donning Bengaluru colours this year. The marauding full-back sat down with indiansuperleague.com for an exclusive interview ahead of Bengaluru’s season opener. Here are the excerpts.

How has it been working in Bengaluru FC under the tutelage of Albert Roca?

I’m very much excited to play for Bengaluru this year. As we have played in the AFC Cup, it is now a new beginning for us in the Hero ISL. So each and every one of us is excited and we have to get positive results and much-needed wins, especially in the first game. So, if the start is good it will help us keep going and will also help us in our next game.

How’s it been working with Bengaluru’s senior players?

We do have very experienced players. We’ve got [Sunil] Chhetri Bhai, Harmanjot Khabra, Gurpreet [Singh Sandhu] and everyone has played [in the past]. We [also] have [John] Johnson and even all the foreigners are good. I’m happy to be learning from them, it’s an amazing experience for me. So I’m always learning so much.

Your thoughts on replacing Rino Anto at full-back?

I would like to say that Rino and myself are different types of players. We play in the same position, but I haven’t played right back in the last AFC games. So now if I get a chance to play in my original position I will play my own game. I will play different football because his playing style is different from mine. There is no comparison as such. I will give my best and help my team to win games.

What are your personal goals for the season and what do you make of your season opener against Mumbai?

My personal goal for the upcoming league is that we have to win this league, but we will go match by match, so our first target will be our first game against Mumbai. It will be a big game for us as it will be a home game, so we’ll be going for three points and we have to win this game, anyhow.

Any message for the fans, the West Block Blues that will be coming to cheer you on for the game?

Yes, they will be coming but my message to them will be to come in large numbers so the stands will be full for this game and their support is like a twelfth man to us and it will help us during the ninety minutes. So I want them to come and support us in large numbers.