Sabyasachi Bagchi, Siliguri: Khalid Jamil’s East Bengal is just a draw away to seal the Calcutta Football League title for a record eighth consecutive times. Their star striker from Trinidad and Tobago Willis Plaza is in red hot form in the league as he already scored 5 goals in the league. Plaza started really well in last season’s I-League but failed to continue his momentum and his performance in the Kolkata derby is not that good too. But he is the main weapon for Khalid Jamil in the CFL derby as Plaza scored a hat-trick in the last match against Tollygunge Agragami. Ahead of the much awaited derby WP9 exclusively talked to www.xtratime.in correspondent Sabyasachi Bagchi via Whatsapp.
XT: In Derby you haven’t performed well. Do you think you can change that result this time around?
Plaza: I haven’t forgotten anything. Last time the referee showed me a red card in the 67th minute of the game as I head butted Anas in the I-League derby at thid venue. In the Federation Cup at Cuttack I missed a lot of easy chances. If that didn’t happen the result of the match should be different. But this time I promise that the result will go in our favour. I want to win the match tomorrow and want to dedicate the title to our fans as a Durga Puja gift.
XT: Are you under a bit pressure ahead of the derby?
Plaza: I am not feeling any pressure but I am hungry for goals. I want to score goals against Mohun Bagan and help my team to win the title. The officials and the coach have kept their faith on me. The supporters are backing mee too and I want to bring smiles on their faces ahead of the Durga Puja.
XT: You started really well for the Red & Gold Brigade last season but couldn’t continue it till the end of the seaon. What is the reason behind it?
Plaza: My elder brother died in the middle of the season. He was just two years elder than me. We both grew up together. He was suffering with cancer and his I couldn’t accept his death on that moment. That’s the main reason for my off form. But I want to thank the club officials for standing beside me in my tough times.
XT: You have already scored five goals in CFL 2017 and have a hat-trick under your belt too. Among them which was your favourite goal?
Plaza: You know the feeling of a hat-trick is totally different. But the goal against Mohammedan Sporting was the best for me as it came in the dying moment of the match and we played a draw with the. If we lost that match the team the team wouldn’t be in a comfortable position ahead of the derby.
XT: Kromah said that there are a lot of errors in your defence. Kingsley also said that he won’t give you a chance to score. Your comment on that?
Plaza: I don’t bother what they are saying. The derby is just a few hours away. They have a lot of errors too in their mid-field. Khalid Jamil and the team management knows that very well. We will show them on the field that what we are capable off.
XT: You just need a draw to win the CFL for a record eighth consecutive times, on the other hand this will be a must win game for Bagan if they want to win the title. Do you think it would add more pressure to them?
Plaza: I don’t know what they are thinking. But we will go to the field to win the match. I want to win the league by beating them.
XT: What is the difference between the squad of last year and this year?
Plaza: The atmosphere of the dressing room has totally changed. I want to give the vredit to our coach Khalid Jamil. On the other hand Al Amna’s inclusion in the squad has created more varity in the mid-field. After his arrival we have stopped playing with the long ball long ball theory. In the modern day football you need these two things for the success of the team.
XT: On the day of your hat-trick against Tollygunge Agragami, some chaos took place in front of Mohun Bagan ground between the supporters of both the clubs. Do you want to share any special message to the East Bengal fans regarding this issue?
Plaza: I just want to urge all the supporters to maintain peace. The result might go in anybody’s favour, but everybody should keep calm and enjoy the festival with their family.