Bankmen seek to avoid relegation

Chennai, March 12: Air-India were brought crashing down when their unbeaten streak came stuck at the hands of FC Kochin after 11 outings. Cu...

Chennai, March 12: Air-India were brought crashing down when their unbeaten streak came stuck at the hands of FC Kochin after 11 outings. Currently perched third in the Philips National Football League, they are in with a good chance to finish on a high note.

Air-India take on Indian Bank tomorrow, a match which the bankmen will not mind earning three points from. JCT, Churchill and Indian Bank are the three bottom placed teams and one of these are to join Mahindras in relegation.

For Air-India, the stakes are totally different. They are joint fourth with East Bengal (24 from 15). Mohun Bagan (29 from 15), Salgaocar (26 from 16) and FC Kochin (25 from 16) are ahead of Air-India.

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Air-India’s coach Bimal Ghosh still fancied his team finishing on the top of the heap. A-I are yet to play Mohun Bagan (away) and East Bengal (home).Ghosh felt the loss against Kochin came as a dampener when the bunch was riding on a high. Then followed two subsequent losses against Salgaocar and Dempo.

The good news for A-Iis the return of their turbo-charged goalkeeper Yusuf Ansari after a year’s suspension, in the last two matches. But goalkeeping is one area which has not bothered Ghosh for he was lavish in praise of Shyam Sawant, the reserve goalkeeper.

In Godfrey Pereira, Anthony Fernandez and Abbas Ali Rizvi, Air-India have three seasoned customers who look for the little challenge as the motivation factor. Khambiton Singh and Khogen Singh are the two resourceful midfielders and their proven merits need no endorsement.

For Indian Bank, there is no change in the scenario. The team is in good nick but it is the three points which matter to them as the noose is getting tighter. All is fine with the team and it was just hard luck that the main goalkeeper Sebastian Netto had an off-day in the match against Salgaocar.