ATK will serve as hosts to a completely refurbished NorthEast United FC side at their very own Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday. Steve Coppell and his troops will be desperate to claim maximum points against the Highlanders, after falling victims of defeat against Kerala Blasters in the season opener.

Ahead of the encounter, indiansuperleague.com caught up for an exclusive interview with ATK’s lethal Nigerian striker Kalu Uche, who appeared confident to emerge victorious in their match-week two fixture. Here are the excerpts:

What made you sign for ATK?

Even before I joined Delhi Dynamos last season, I knew that ATK is a great club because of their history. The first time I was in India with Pune, I already knew this club, with the history as I said before. When I got an opportunity to come to ATK, I took it and I was happy about it. It’s a club with great history and I can possibly continue progressing in my football here. 

On his experience with head coach Steve Coppell.

Working with the coach so far has been great. It’s fantastic, with the way he talks, with the way he approaches the players, the situations and tactics. Overall, it’s been great.

On the squad’s preparations ahead of the next match.  

It’s sad that we lost the first game. We weren’t expecting that, but in football, so many things happen and we should just put it back and focus on the next game. All we need to do is to just try our best to improve in the next game, to give our best and to come out victorious in the next game.

Thoughts about the match against NorthEast.

Every game is important and every game is a difficult game. NorthEast did well in the last match against Goa, where they played very well. The game is going to be very important for us. We are going to give everything we have to get the three points. Also, we dedicate this trip to our fans, to all the ATK families in Kolkata and also, to build our confidence and enable us to continue growing in the upcoming games.

On playing against his compatriot Bartholomew Ogbeche.

Ogbeche is a guy that I know very well. We have been together for years in Nigeria. We started with the U-17 for the Nigerian national team. So, I know him very well. He is a good player and it is going to be a special game for us, as we see each other again after a long time.