Vinit Rai: Gave our all on the pitch
Delhi Dynamos FC came from a goal down to draw 1-1 against FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Wednesday in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18.
Delhi Dynamos FC came from a goal down to draw 1-1 against FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Wednesday in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18. The Lions’ skipper Kalu Uche latched onto Lallianzuala Chhangte’s assist and scored in the 81st minute to cancel out Hugo Boumous 53rd minute opener for FC Goa. The visitors showcased great resilience against a desperate home side to come away with a point and speaking to indiansuperleague.com post the 90 minutes was their 20-year-old midfielder Vinit Rai. Here are the excerpts from the interview.
Your thoughts on the game?
It was a very intense game. We came away from home to play against Goa, who are a very good side this season. It was a very good game and we came out to give our best. So, whatever may be the circumstances, we are not focusing on that. We just came to give our all on the pitch today.
What were the instructions from the coach going into the second half?
Everyone of us - the players, the staff and the coaches, want to finish the season on a good note. So, for us, every game is a final. It’s been a good run in the last three games, as we have not lost a game in those three. So, we want to keep the momentum going. We just came out in the second half to give our best because we have nothing to lose.
After Boumous scored for Goa, how determined were you to score?
It (Goa’s goal) was unlucky if you ask me. They played well but it was deflected. Deflection goals always need luck. I will give Boumous his credit, but we could have done better and stopped them.
Talk us through Uche’s goal.
He is the man in form at the moment because he has been scoring all the vital goals. His age is around 34-35, but he is keeping himself very fit at the moment to prove a point and to come out in every game to score vital goals for the team. We needed him at the moment to finish the season on a good note.
Goa have a lot of supporters. How did it feel playing in the stadium in front of them?
It was good. I love to play here in Goa, in Kerala and in Jamshedpur. Not this season in NorthEast because of the circumstances. It’s good to play in that atmosphere where the crowds are cheering, whether they are supporting you or supporting the opponents. It gives you goosebumps and makes you push the extra limit. So, it was good.
