The Indian senior men's football Goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, a veteran of many matches in the city, has been impressed by the unwavering support from Kolkata fans. "Fan support is never a question when we mention Kolkata," said Gurpreet to AIFF media team, "You can see the passion, the demand, and the love for the game. Our job is to play our best football to justify people sacrificing their daily lives to come see us".

Gurpreet acknowledged the challenge ahead but remains optimistic. "The game on the 6th is going to be very challenging because of the opposition. We are studying them closely to make sure there is no room for error," he continued, "Reaching the third round and qualifying for the Asian Cup is immensely important. We are desperate to achieve this and will give our hearts out to win".