Sporting face uphill task against E Bengal

Written by NT Network

Wednesday, 03 February

MARGAO: Struggling Sporting Clube de Goa will have their task cut out when they clash with the high flying East Bengal in the I-League match at Nehru stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday.

The task for Sporting appears gigantic considering the Federation Cup champion’s unbeaten run in the last three matches that includes a praiseworthy draw in the last match against title favourites Dempo Sports Club at the same venue.

Sporting coach Vishwas Gaonkar, despite the odds, has kept faith and felt that his team is very capable of getting a positive result. “I agree and it’s a fact that for any team, not just for us, in this situation, the morale will be on the downside but it’s not the end, we can pick ourselves from here with a win. Our team remains same. It hasn’t changed, we’ve got some experienced players. The only thing is we need some luck. We were unfortunate so many times to concede goals and the boys know that a victory can change the situation, and I am very hopeful that we’ll fight to get ourselves back on tack,” Vishwas explained keeping up a brave face.

Sporting will be without winger Joseph Pereira and wing back Elvino Fernandes who are suspended but the return of wiry central defender Mathew Gonsalves from a leg injury should be an additional assurance in the rearguard.

With Joseph out of contention, the forgotten man Nicholas Rodrigues has a big opportunity to re-establish himself on the left wing but the performance of Nigerian strike duo of Junior Obagmiro and Nathaniel Amos will be decisive in the final outcome.

East Bengal’s fortune has changed dramatically after the win against defending champions Churchill Bros. The red and gold followed it up with a deserving draw against the mighty Dempo Sports Club, so it’s quiet natural that coach Philipe de Rider would settle for nothing less than full points.

The Bengal giants are in an ominous form with Ghanian marksman Yusuf Yakubu being the focal point for the Fed Cup winners and with the other star names, India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, Alvito D’Cunha, captain Syed Rahim Nabi, Ghanian Abel Hammond and Mehrajuddin Wadoo also in fine nick, Sporting Clube will require a tremendous effort to stop the downslide. (NT)

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Added by: Anselm Pio Noronha