AIFF Media Team
Kalyani/Goa, Friday, April 10, 2026: Diamond Harbour FC and Dempo SC will aim to build on their recent victories when they host Chanmari FC and Aizawl FC, respectively, in a Star Cement Indian Football League 2025-26 double-header on Saturday, April 11.
The match between Dempo SC and Aizawl FC will be played at the PJN Stadium in Goa with the kick-off slated for 16:00 IST while the evening fixture between Diamond Harbour FC and Chanmari FC will take place at the Kalyani Stadium in Kolkata with the kick-off scheduled for 18:30 IST.
Both the matches will be broadcast live at on DD Sports and Sony Sports Network, and streamed on Waves and Sony LIV.
Dempo SC vs Aizawl FC
Dempo SC will hope to build on a 3-0 victory over Shillong Lajong FC on April 7 and end Round one on a high. The result marked the Goan side’s first win of the season, taking them to six points.
A victory on Saturday would allow head coach Samir Naik’s squad to climb further away from the lower end of the table. The team displayed disciplined defensive organisation and capitalised on their chances in the attacking third to secure the clean sheet.
Naik highlighted the competitive nature of the league and the importance of building a winning sequence. “This is a very tricky league, and there is not much difference between the teams in the standings,” Naik stated. “Everything looks positive after our recent win, but tomorrow’s fixture is a crucial game for our season. We need to focus on winning this match first.”
Defender Aubin Kouakou echoed this optimism, noting the team’s steady progress. “It took time, but now we are coming into it,” Kouakou said. “We needed the three points, and we believe we can secure six points from our next two games.”
Aizawl FC travel to Goa following a 1-1 draw against Sreenidi Deccan FC on April 5. The result kept the People’s Club in fifth place with nine points.
A victory would help them solidify their position in the top half of the standings and close the gap on the leaders. Head coach R. Lalruatfela’s side will look to build on their resilient second-half performance from their previous outing, where they forced a late equaliser.
Lalruatfela stressed the importance of starting strongly rather than relying on second-half recoveries. “We want to start the match well. Sometimes things do not go in our favour, and clean sheets are difficult in this league,” Lalruatfela explained. “We made defensive errors previously, but we made changes and it worked. We must aim to avoid those early mistakes.”
Defender Luis Rodriguez acknowledged the hosts’ playing style but remained confident in his own squad. “Dempo is a good team that plays on the ground with passing, and they have a strong striker in Marcus Joseph,” Rodriguez noted. “But our team is also good, and we have the players to compete.”
Historical statistics favour the hosts in the head-to-head matchups between both sides. In two previous encounters, Dempo SC have recorded one victory, with the other match ending in a draw. The Goan side have scored five goals in these fixtures compared to two by Aizawl FC. In their most recent meeting on March 24, 2025, Dempo registered a 5-2 victory in Margao.
Diamond Harbour FC vs Chanmari FC
Diamond Harbour FC will be back home at the Kalyani Stadium sitting at the top of the table, following a 5-4 victory over Namdhari SC in their last fixture. The high-scoring win extended their lead at the summit to four points over their closest rivals. A victory on Saturday would further solidify their position as league leaders and extend their dominance at the top.
Head coach Kibu Vicuña acknowledged the quality of the opposition and the history between the two sides. “It will be a very difficult game against Chanmari. We played them multiple times last year, so we know they have very good players and a capable coach in Dipankur, who previously worked with us,” Vicuña noted. “They have young players with hunger, so we must be prepared for a big challenge.”
Winger Halicharan Narzary emphasised a focused, game-by-game approach for the league leaders. “Chanmari is a good team with good players,” Narzary stated. “But we are in a strong position, and we will try to play well and get a positive result.”
Chanmari FC look to build on a 2-1 away victory over Real Kashmir FC. The result moved the debutants to seventh place with eight points. A win against the league toppers would significantly boost their push for a top-six finish. Under head coach Dipankur Sharma, the team demonstrated clinical finishing from set-pieces and effective pace on the counter-attack in their previous outing.
“We are pleased with our recent performance, but playing the league leaders is a significant test,” Sharma explained. “We are ready to compete and fight for the points.”
With Diamond Harbour pushing to extend their advantage at the top and Dempo aiming to climb the table following their breakthrough win, Saturday’s double-header carries significant importance for both ends of the standings.
