Iain Hume will take on his old club ATK in the opening match of Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 between the two-time champions and Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Friday. The Canadian striker will be donning Kerala colours for the first time since the inaugural season and will be eager to get on the scoresheet against his former side with whom he lifted the title last year. Clinical in the box, Hume also happens to be Hero ISL’s leading goal-scorer and will be eager to add to his tally in the upcoming season. He took part in a Facebook Live in the eve of the season opener. Here are the excerpts.

Teddy Sheringham mentioned he’s been watching some footage of you in preparation for the match. Have you got something new up your sleeve?

No, I’m who I am, I play the way I do. It shows an amount of respect from their side as they said they’re looking at videos of myself but there are a lot of other players as well that they are going to worry about as well. Berbatov is somebody you can’t just turn a blind eye to and there are few others, myself included. You don’t try to be predictable, you try to play off the cuff, you enjoy playing at what you excel at. I’ll be no different this year than I have been last season.

In his press conference Rene has mentioned not taking too many touches of the ball, is that something you enjoyed during the pre-season?

It’s always better when you don’t get yourself in trouble and I think the way the coach has got us set out is to play quick moving football but for me, I’m obviously not of the speed I used to be, at the speed of these younger guys so for me it’s always short and sharp movements and getting the ball and getting it in the box. So it’s something I’m accustomed to, so I understand what the manager is trying to put across and it seems to be working just fine but the proof will be in the game tomorrow as obviously doing that in the stage of the opening ceremony is a perfect time to have everything gel together.

We all know about the stadium in Kochi, you’re one of the few fit players, who’s been at the stadium as a home player and an away player. Can you tell us the difference?

It’s been different for me because I’ve never been treated as an away player so I’ve been quite fortunate. Sets of fans from both clubs, home or away are for me, the two best in India but I don’t think they’re going to deny in the atmosphere in Kochi sort of blooms up before the game and 3 hours before the game it’s full and the outside’s got ten, fifteen, twenty thousand people. It is something special and it’s going to be an eye opener for a lot of other players because obviously if they’ve not played in the ISL or played in Kochi before, they’re going to be excited and surprised and potentially a little bit nervous but I guess that’s part of the game. If you don’t get nervous before a game then you’ve got problems because you should be getting ready to play.

You’re obviously very professional but I’ve got to ask, the last time you were on this pitch you lifted the ISL trophy. Any mixed feelings there?

It was hard but you always play to win the game. We did have an up and down season last year at ATK getting into the finals here at Kochi against Kerala, obviously the pinnacle of the season. It was well deserved for both teams to be in the finals. To have it happen the way it happened is heart-breaking. I’ve been on the other end of a penalty shoot-out and a last minute goal in the first season. So I know how the players felt but from a personal stand point it was a brilliant feeling as we came away with the trophy and that’s what we play for.

Top scorer in the ISL, how much do you think the likes of Berbatov is going to help you propel that and what are some of the objectives this season?

To be honest, my objectives are as they always are, to play as many games as I can… if I’m playing as many games as possible I know the goals are going to come. May not be tonight or tomorrow but I know the goals are going to come. When you start to gel together with people around you, there’s more of an understanding so goals are going to be there. So I know that’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of me feeding of Berba and CK and vice versa and putting together a good little partnership. We do that and we’ll be as strong as anyone.

We know there’s Iain Hume, there’s Berbatov, there’s CK Vineeth, there’s Wes Brown. Any talents that you think may surprise everybody?

One hundred percent! The gaffer has bought in good young players who are hungry. I’ll let you figure out who they are after tomorrow night and after a couple of games after they put a mark on the league but I’ll leave that as a surprise for everyone.

Any message for the fans of both sides since you’ve been close to both?

Oh! I’ve got a great relationship with both of you. Tomorrow is obviously the start of the fourth season of the ISL, so can’t wait to get started. I was looking forward to play at Salt Lake but doing it at home in front of our fans here in Kochi is going to be something special, the atmosphere will be electric. I’ll be enjoying that game tomorrow night but to all you ATK fans I’ll be seeing you at the end of the season in Kolkata!