Mauricio fills in sick Armando’s place; Booth quits Salgaocar
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: “We need another four points from three remaining fixtures to claim the coveted I-league crown,” stated league leaders Churchill Bros technical director Subash Bhowmick after the team gained a five-point lead over closest contestants, East Bengal.
Churchill Bros have two matches against Mohun Bagan (home and away, April 21 in Kolkata) and one against Air India (May 12 in Pune) and Bhowmick feels they are all vital. He praised his boys for the way they came back twice against Dempo yesterday and recorded a 2-2 draw which gave them a vital point. “ With the chances we missed and the chances that were saved, we could have won,” said the experienced tactician.
“We have to earn at least another four points out of these three matches. Yesterday also, we could have won, but we drew,” he added.
Another four points will ensure Churchill Bros the title and even if East Bengal win the rest of their matches (v. Dempo, Air India, Mohun Bagan), they would be level on points (52) with the Goan side which has a better head-to-head record.
Since the inception of the I-League, yet another title beckons a team from Goa, but Bhowmick does not rule out East Bengal’s chances. “I did not say that East Bengal cannot get those points,” he remarked.
“Out of nine points, we have to get four points, if not five or six…(and in such an event) East Bengal will be looking for second or a third place as Pune FC have two matches in hand,” the former East Bengal and Mohun coach concluded.
Meanwhile, former India international Mauricio Afonso who was filling in for head-coach-cum-secretary of Dempo Armando Colaco in the draw against Churchill Brothers hailed his players who broke the Golden Eagles’ losing streak of five matches, on Wednesday.
Dempo are currently fifth in the standings, two points behind Prayag United SC, with 36 points and have two matches to go before the end of the season. “If we win these two matches, we will get a reasonable standing,” commented Afonso.
“There have been a lot of injuries, but I have to appreciate my players for giving their best match against Churchill Brothers, especially Peter Carvalho and Selwyn Fernandes. They were every time shuffled. Like, Peter was playing as a stopper-back as he is originally a midfielder,” said the assistant coach.
“The team played well after a long time,” he added, given that his side have so far picked only seven points in the second half of the league.
Mauricio did not hide the fact that Dempo were very good in the first half of the season but that subsequently they were hit by injuries. “We didn’t have a single stopper-back, but the players have managed and have given their best.”
Samir Naik had only just returned from a lengthy injury lay-off, but the right back has to sit out for the next match against East Bengal as he now has four yellow cards to his name, along with midfielder Climax Lawrence, while defender Cresson Antao will however return after serving his one-match ban.
Meanwhile, with head coach Armando Colaco missing from the technical area, Afonso revealed, “The head coach’s health is a concern. He is not well, so I am filling in.” However, those in the know of recent developments after Rohan Rickets unceremonious good-bye, have been talking in hushed tones about Armando’s possible departure, especially after the exit of Custodio Almeida as the manager, who also pointed out about his health problems with high diabetes.
As the season is nearing its end, clubs are preparing to engage new coaches with Salgaocar FC head coach David Booth quitting after turning the fortunes of the Goan side since taking over the reigns from former coach Karim Bencherifa. He left yesterday for England and Peter Vales took over from him as the head coach.
On being asked by Goal.com whether the Goan club will aim to win the league title next season, Booth announced that he won’t be at the helm next season and wished them all the luck for future. “I don’t know (if Salgaocar will be one of the front-runners). I won’t be here,” he said.
“They (Salgaocar) told me that they can’t keep me. I’ve got some interested teams,” he added. “But nothing concrete at the moment. I’ll be going on a holiday. I won’t be here after that, so good luck to them.” However, there were strong indications that he could join Dodsal with Pune’s Derick Pereira being tipped to step in his shoes.
