National League set for a thrilling finale

The League concludes tomorrow with five matches to be played simultaneously all over the country and the possibilities are intriguing. However, PK Banerjee appears to have settled for the more realistic ambition of finishing runners-up while lavishly praising his opposite number Bimal Ghosh who is guiding the airmen.

Banerjee said: “Playing Air-India will not be easy. Bimal has built them into formidable opponents and must becongratulated for it.” Indeed, Air-India with five wins and four draws out of nine matches played at home this season will take some beating and Ghosh is confident of victory.

Air-India have little to lose. Defeat against East Bengal will not alter fifth position they hold today. However, victory tomorrow along with a Dempo win over FC Kochin at Kannur would make third postition and Rs 18 lakh prize money — as opposed to Rs 7.5 lakh — very inviting.

Even better, Rs 25 lakh, looks a stunning bonanza for a side devoid of imports should JCT beat Salgaocar and Dempo beat FC Kochin to pave the way to second spot for the Mumbai airmen.

Air-India, though, must cope with the absence of international Jeevan Moras still nursing a knee injury along with defensive bulwark Jacinto D’Silva and ebullient mid-fielder Dennis George.

East Bengal may make do without injured Nigerean striker A Felix. Bhaichung Bhutia who scored a dream match-winner against Mahindras is half-fit but a knee injury and thigh musclepull will not keep the gifted striker out according to Banerjee.

Bagan, the frontrunner

CALCUTTA: With the cricket fever in Calcutta over a day earlier than expected, the spotlight will be back on football. And why not? Tomorrow is after all, a big day in that sport, at least at the domestic level. The fate of the second NFL will be decided and Salt Lake Stadium will be at the centre of attention, reports Saibal Bose.

Mohun Bagan, currently the League leaders have to beat Mahindras here tomorrow to win the League. Of course, they can afford to draw too, provided JCT too hold Salgaocar. Bagan would not want to take chances and will definately go all out.

The home team will once again bank on Chima Okerie and Roshan Pereira in the absence of Dipendu Biswas who has exhausted his quota of 45 matches. Even mid-fielder Basudev Mondal is out for the same reason. So is speedy winger Abdul Khalique. Even Mahindras is a depleted side. Abhay Kumar, the Tata Football Academy boy who had a season inCalcutta before moving to Mumbai, has not accompanied the team to Calcutta owing to an injury.

Another striker Khalid Jamil and defender Rehmatullah are booked out with two yellow cards. Yet, they have the advantage of carrying a nothing-to-lose image and facing a side that will be jittery to the last man.

Salgaocar too in race

NEW DELHI: Salgaocar, Goa, who are now lying second with 29 points in the will have to beat last year’s champions JCT (Phagwara) in their last league match at Ambedkar Stadium tomorrow, to retain an outside chance of winning the title.

Salgaocar’s Nigerian strikers Omolaja Olalken and Jude Odgegah along with former Indian captain Bruno Coutinho will have a tough job to get past the determined JCT, who are placed seventh with 20 points from 17 matches.However, the Phagwara side has avoided relegation due to their superior goal-difference of +4 even though they have the same number of points as Indian Bank who is now eighth.

Chennai braces for encore

CHENNAI:The scenario is akin to a man about to be hanged hoping for a last-gasp clemency. In an almost repeat of the inaugural year’s clash, Indian Bank take on Churchill Brothers in one of the five final matches slated for the morrow, at the Nehru stadium, reports KV Vasudevan.

It only looked just the other day when the bankmen spoiled Churchill’s party holding them to a 1-1 draw in the inaugural NFL league. A win on that day for Churchill Brothers would have given them the title.

Churchill no doubt have a score to settle with. But they are in such a situation that nothing short of a win on the morrow will enable them to retain their place. A draw is enough for bankmen to stay put in the elite division.

Churchill will be without Surmani Singh, an ace defender and a principal weapon in their armoury. Surmani picked up his second yellow against Salgaocar. Surmani’s absence apart, Chibuzor and Tasif Jamal are less than cent per cent fit.

Indian Bank too do not deserve to be staring at the hangman’s noose. Theywere at home’ in the matches played at Chennai and the wins against JCT, FC Kochin and Dempo were absolute gems. The religious minded Bank coach Alberto Fernando said this is not the time to mull over the bygone-days. “The boys are aware of the responsibility and I am hoping they will deliver.”