Dempo coach opts out of I-League title race

New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) For someone who has won domestic
football's premier championships for two successive seasons,
it should be normal to chase a hat-trick, but Dempo coach
Armando Colaco has opted out of the I-League title race lest
they get "distracted" from their goal of conquering Asia.

Dempo became the first Indian club to progress to the
semi-finals of the A.F.C. Cup when they defeated Home United
4-3 in Singapore.

"My priority right now is the A.F.C. Cup semi-finals
against Safa Club of Lebanon (on October 7 and 21). I don't
want to spend time on the I-league. I don't want it to be a
distraction," Indian football's most celebrated coach in
recent times told P.T.I. from Goa Friday.

"Everybody knows Dempo in India. Now we want to make a
name for ourselves in Asia. Earlier, it was all about Mohun
Bagan and East Bengal, but now the tables have turned and
Dempo's here to make waves.

"If we make it to the final of the A.F.C. Cup, then it
will be a great thing for Indian football," said the coach who
doesn't mince his words.

The I-League is starting Friday in Kolkata and Goa
simultaneously and the Dempo coach opted to keep his team out
of the title race.

"I would be happy if we manage to stay afloat in the
I-league. I don't want to go down to the second division,"
said the coach of the defending champions.