ISL 2023-24: Hopefully we grow from this season – Hyderabad FC’s Thangboi Singto

Hyderabad FC’s head coach Thangboi Singto is hopeful of growing from the season after their 3-1 loss against Kerala Blasters in the 21st match week of the ongoing Indian Super League at the GMC Balayogi Stadium, Hyderabad on Friday.

The Nizams had a horrid run in ISL 2023-24, finishing as the cellar-dwellers in the league stage with a solitary win in 22 matches. Their last league stage game against the Yellow Tuskers was just a reflection of how poor their season went.

Mohammed Aimen scored in the 34th minute for the visitors to put them in front. Subsequently, Japanese footballer Daisuke Sakai scored in the 51st minute to double the team’s lead. Nihal Sudeesh then scored in the 81st minute but Joao Victor got one back for the home team at the fag end of the game.

“We started well and then we made the decision from where we can concede goals. Excatly that happened today. Till the 31st minute, we were quite competitive, but one mistake (and we conceded the goal). I can’t blame the young players, who have been playing continuously and have given all for their all, their best for the club. So I cant complain about that one mistake. But we created two big chances. If we had converted, that would have been a different story. We knew we would be able to score,” Singto said in the post-match press conference.

In fact, Hyderabad FC took seven shots on target but could only convert a single shot. Singto showered praise on skipper Joao Victor for scoring the solitary goal for his team.

“In the second half, at the fag end of the match, Joao was saying, ‘Maybe I can push up. (I told him) Go’ and he scored the goal. In the last match, he got the equaliser against NorthEast United FC,” he shared.

He further said: “If Victor was upfront, we still have more control upfront, but we also need Joao defensively also. But credit to Joao, credit to the team, senior boys for pushing the young boys to give their best. We had a lot of chances.”

“We had lots of chances, like 13, 14 or 15 shots and on target maybe 4-5. That little bit statistically helped us be in the game. But hopefully, we grow from this season, where we restudy the mistakes we made. If we didn’t make those mistakes, at least a draw or some matches we could have won. And we could have got double digits (points). But saying that, lot of things to learn from here.”

Hyderabad FC will aim to come up with a more collective show in the next season.