Injury hit AI face JCT Challenge
AGENCIES
MUMBAI, APRIL 28
Air India will be more desperate in search of a win when they take on JCT in the round 23 match of the I-league to be played at the Cooperage ground on Thursday.
Air India are placed 10th with 25 points, while the visiting team find themselves in the seventh position with 28 points.
Though the visiting team are placed higher in the points table, a win will help Airmen to level the points with JCT. But going by the performance, Air India have not been able to register a win since sometime now as their last win came against the Kolkata giants East Bengal in the round 17.
Yusuf Ansari’s team has somehow managed to keep themselves motivated but a win in home conditions could surely give them the needed boost. But at the same time, the Mumbai outfit has been rocked by numerous injuries which have been the major concern.
Dada Nabeel, Harpreet Singh, Soccor Velho, Kailash Patil and Allan Dias are all recuperating from their respective injuries. Reuben Singh, Tapan Maity, Samson Singh and James Singh are likely to replace them.
Air India further suffers another blow as skipper Vijith Shetty is out due to one match automatic suspension.
“Soccor Velho is not fully fit but he did participate in the training today and has been practicing since the last two days. I will try to play him as I need him at this point of time in the league. JCT team is high on morale, but for us these three points are going to be very crucial.”
While the visiting team will equally eye to better their ranking after their inspirational win over Chirag United, which helped them to stay away from the relegation threat.
JCT coach Parminder Singh on the other hand will miss three players in the tie against Air India. Baljit Sahni hasn’t travelled due to an injury Gurwinder Singh is still sidelined due to injury, while their foreign import Penn Orji will be out of tomorrow’s action due to double bookings.
“Air India have beaten us on our home ground and they are a good team. But we will surely look to take as many points as we can.” said the soft spoken JCT coach Parminder.
