Chennai: Indian Super League outfit Chennaiyin FC returned home to Chennai following their pre-season camp in Ahmedabad and Jamshedpur and was welcomed by the fans in numbers at the airport here this evening.
The Chennaiyin supporters showed up with banners, placards and were in great voice to mark the club’s homecoming. Chennaiyin Head Coach John Gregory hailed the unconditional nature of the fans’ adulation for their side and the support growing with every passing year as he steps into his third season at the CFC helm.
“This is a fantastic welcome that we have received from our fans who have stood by us through thick and thin. For all our players, old and new, this will surely inspire them to give their all this season. It’s a great feeling to be back home, as always. Now it’s time to let our actions speak on the pitch,” said the Chennaiyin Assistant Coach Syed Sabir Pasha to the media present at the Chennai Airport to cover the team’s arrival.
Chennaiyin arrive in Chennai on the back of a four-week long pre-season camp, the first three weeks of which was in Ahmedabad. CFC played ARA FC in a pre-season friendly at The Arena by Transstadia in Ahmedabad on September 15, beating them 3-1 with new signings Andre Schembri, Nerijus Valskis along with youth India international Rahim Ali getting on the scoresheet. This was followed by a week of training in Jamshedpur.
Chennaiyin will continue their pre-season preparations in Chennai with the Training Pitch at Sri Ramachandra Institute for Higher Education and Research (SRMC) the venue. CFC is scheduled to play a pre-season friendly against Gokulam Kerala FC at the SRMC Training Pitch on Tuesday 8 October 2019.
CFC kicks off their ISL campaign with a trip to FC Goa on Wednesday, 23 October before back-to-back home games against Mumbai City FC and ATK on 27 October and 30 October respectively.