FC Pune City begin their 2016 Hero Indian Super League campaign against Mumbai City FC at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Monday. The Stallions will have happy memories of the Maharashtra derby having beaten Mumbai in their season opener of Hero ISL 2015 by a 3-1 score-line. Sanju Pradhan, who represented NorthEast United FC last season and made three assists for the Highlanders, is set to don FC Pune City colours this year. The tricky winger spoke to indiansuperleague.com ahead of his side’s first match of the season and discussed a variety of subjects, including his reunion with Antonio Habas, his coach at ATK in 2014. Here are the excerpts from the interview.You have played under Antonio Habas before. Was it an easy decision to come to FC Pune City?It was very hard because in the first season I didn’t get much playing time under him. The second year too he told me he wanted to sign me but unfortunately it couldn’t happen. After my performance in the second edition, he wanted to sign me for FC Pune City, so I am here. We had good training sessions in the pre-season. I can’t say that I will get to play in every match or that I will get into the first eleven but I’ll wait for my chance and whenever I get my chance I’ll prove myself.Last year you were responsible for many Highlanders assists. Are we going to see some goals too this year?I am training hard for it. Last year I had many assists in the ISL. So this year I am hoping to score many goals for FC Pune City. Hope for the best. If I get my chance I’ll give more than 100% for FC Pune City.How different has your experience been with FC Pune City so far?It’s going great. The management is also good. The officials, the management and the coaching staff are really nice. So I am hoping for the best this year.Lastly, do you have any message for the fans?In Pune, I don’t think everyone loves football. In the last two seasons, not many came to watch football here, especially when you compare to the kind of crowd ATK and NorthEast United FC get. However, this year we have a really good team. This year everyone please come and support us. We hope that we reach the semis this season. We need your help and we need your support.
