Jamshedpur, November 11: Despite a tough 5-1 defeat to Chennaiyin FC, the match provided a moment of pride for football fans from Jharkhand, with three local players taking the field in the final 15 minutes.

Goalkeeper Amrit Gope and forward Samir Murmu made their debuts, while Nikhil Barla, a familiar face, completed the trio of Jharkhand players on the pitch when the final whistle was blown.

Amrit Gope, who rose through the ranks of Jamshedpur FC's academy, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play at the top level. "It was great to see three players from Jharkhand finishing the game together. I believe more players from our state are coming up professionally because of the support we now have at clubs like Jamshedpur FC. There’s a strong focus on developing local talent, and young players from Jharkhand are responding to that. We’re proud to represent Jharkhand and hope to inspire even more local talent to pursue football seriously," said Gope.

The debut was a significant moment for Gope, who said, "It was a huge honor for me to debut for Jamshedpur FC, representing Jharkhand at such a level. Though the match result wasn’t what we hoped for, stepping onto the pitch was a proud moment for me. I’m grateful for the chance and motivated to keep improving so I can contribute more in the future."

Looking ahead, the team is focus on bouncing back from this setback. "The mood in the camp is focused and determined. We’ve been working hard to address areas where we struggled, and with this international break, we have time to regroup and prepare thoroughly. Everyone’s motivated to make a comeback and to give our best performance against Mohun Bagan."

Jamshedpur FC face Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their next fixture to be played at Kolkata on November 23rd.