We mean business: Pune FC coach Snoei

Before setting foot in Kochi, Mike Snoei had made sure their hotel rooms in the city were booked till January 25 — the day the final of the 36th Federation Cup football championship will be played.

The Dutch head coach of Pune FC, has no qualms despite playing the AFC champions league qualifying round-1 play-off just four days after the Fed Cup final and says his boys thrive on competition.

“It doesn’t worry me a bit that we play the Vietnam club on 29th of this month. I want us to stay here as long as possible and do our best in this cup before heading back home for the play-off,” Mike said.

The Cup has arrived at the right time for the Balewadi-based club and should serve as a perfect warm up match ahead of the AFC tournament after the I-League had broken for holidays on December 21.

And the fact that December was catastrophic, with just four points earned in five outings, Pune would want to end the lean patch and hit the right rhythm before representing the country in the AFC.

“It is a tough Cup right from the group stage. But we mean serious business and would give our best to win it. Of course it gives us the perfect preparation for the play-off and the League when it resumes,” said the former Vitesse manager.

A 20-member squad comprising their leading goal scorer Riga Mustapha, Pierre Douhou, James Meyer, Calum Angus, Arata Izumi, Shanmugham Venkatesh and captain and Kerala man Anas Edathodika are in town.

Pune is clubbed in Group-A with Churchill Brothers, United Sports Club and home team Eagles FC. They play Eagles on Jan. 14 and will be in Pune for the play-off fixture with Vietnamese Hanoi T&T on 29th.