Churchill face JCT, Air India meet Viva Kerala
MARGAO, DEC 6
Former NFL champions Salgaocar Sports Club will be looking to keep the bright start going on when they clash with Kolkata’s Chirag United in a second round match of All India Football Federation’s I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Tuesday at 3.45 p.m.
Salgaocar are upbeat after registering a 3-0 win over Kerala’s Viva Kerala away from home and this will be their first match in front of their supporters.
Securing a victory is very much in the mind of Salgaocar’s Moroccan coach Karmim Bencherifa. “We had done very well in the first match. It is always nice to start with a victory and we’ve done that. Chirag are a good team and we will have to be patient against our opponents who have some quality players in their ranks.We had our preparations accordingly and the boys are very eager to play in front of our fans. It can be a challenge for the players and I am hopping that everything works out as per our plans so that we get the three valuable points,” explained Bencherifa.
Salgaocar will be having some injury worries with defenders Peter Costa, Milagres Gonsalves, Chandrashekar Chinta being on the injured list. However the Moroccan coach felt that the injury problems are part of the game. “We have injury problems in the defense as most of them are nursing injuries. But we have to get on with it. We’ll have to be positive and get the consistency in our approach. The encounter is crucial as we aim for full points. I hope the boys will deliver,” said Bencherifa.
Salgaocar will be strengthened with the return of Nigerian striker Ekene Ikenwa who was released by East Bengal and has rejoined the Green Brigade. But the Nigerian frontman is not entirely guaranteed a place in the first eleven as Bencherifa will be assessing the fitness of their last year’s I-league top scorer.
Salgaocar will be relying heavily on Ghanaian import Yusif Yakubu who is not a stranger in Goa having played for Churchill Brothers. Japanese midfielder Ryuji Seoka has been amongst goals and could be the key man for the hosts. Midfielders Cajetan Fernandes, Anthony Barbosa, Brazilian Luciano Sarbosa and goalkeeper Karanjit Singh will be the other players whose performance would be vital for the Goan team.
Chirag United have made a fantastic start this season after annexing the Durand Cup against all odds and the Bengal team carried the good work into the I-League with a calculated 2-1 win over AIFF XI. However, coach Subrata Bhattacharya is cautious about their opponents. “Salgaocar are a different side this time. They have strengthened the team with experienced players and it will be very difficult playing against them on home soil. We have won the first match but the margin could have been different if we had converted all the chances. I don’t want the boys to repeat it and we cannot be complacent. If we want to win, we will have to play at our best and get three point,” said the former Mohun Bagan stopper back after a light practice session at Nehru Stadium on Monday morning.
Chirag United are a very balanced outfit with players like Brazilian striker Joshimar da Silva Martins, Nigerian defender Chika Wali, goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal, Lal
Kamal Bhomick, Denson Devadas, Nacimento Silveira, Jerry Zirsanga and Nigerian Junior Elijah having loads of experience playing in the I-league and the Bengal team will be trying to make it two wins on-the-trot.
Tomorrow’s match will be a battle between two teams high on confidence after winning their opening fixtures and shrewed Chirag boss Bhattacharya will be having a plan to upset the host team. But Salgaocar coach Bencherifa is known for his attacking flair and that strategy could be the difference between the two teams.
Churchill Bros meet JCT at Tau Devi Lal Stadium and Air India take on Viva Kerala in Kholapur also on Tuesday.
