Electronic Telegraph: Click here for UK news

Search
The Indian Express

The Financial Express

Latest News

Screen

Express Computer
Feedback
Travel

Matrimonials

Careers

Lifestyle

Astrology

E-Cards

Columnists

Graffiti

Crossword

Letters

Environment

Jewellery
Info-tech

Power

Advertisers Forum

Business Forum

Morning Digest

In association with Amazon.com

Books Music

Enter keywords


INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE

Politics

Business

Expressions

General

World

Sports

Leisure

States

 

Saturday, February 13, 1999

Goans seek win, ITI play for pride

S Mageshwaran  
BANGALORE, FEB 12: Coach Shabbir Ali of Salgaocar Football Club, Goa, is a worried man. The performance of his side in the ongoing third National Football League so far has been anything but to match its potential. The memories of poor finishing by the forwards, a feature of the Goa league champions' campaign this year, will wring in the coach's mind, when Salgaocar take on Indian Telephone Industries at in a crucial Group B match at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Saturday.

A win at Bangalore is a must for Salgaocar not only for reasons of converting chances or matching performance with potential, but also to consolidate the side's position in the group. Right now, Salgaocar are tied for the third place with Mahindras at 10 points. Three points against ITI will leave Salgaocar in a confident frame of mind when they take on Indian Bank at home in a revenge match.

Mid-field dynamo Bruno Coutinho, who is relishing his new-found position as a striker, will be the key to Salgaocar's success. Coutinho willform a vital link in the Salgaocar attack chain comprising Kenyan William Inganga and Nigerian Jude Odegah. Shabbir also has the choice of using the skilled Alvito D'Cunha in the front-line.

In the mid-field, local boy S Venkatesh would love to make an impression. Help from the experienced Savio Medeira and the presence of Nigerian Habib Adekunle should make the job of Venkatesh that much easier.

Hosts ITI are on a different search. As their rivals look for a win, the local challengers would seek to end their home matches with a win which would redeem their much dented pride. Technically, ITI at five points from eight outings, have an outside chance of making it to the next stage, should they win both their remaining matches, including against Salgaocar.

Much would depend, as usual, on the Kyrgyz trio of Aleksey Drobotov, Kiril Keker and Sergey Kaliubin, as the local league champions look for a win that has remained elusive after the solitary goal victory against Indian Bank at the start of the league.The performance of the ITI attack has been highly inconsistent and it would need a much improved show of combination and co-ordination between the foreigners and the `local' players if the side has to win.

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.


Top


Ashwa Energy Capsules

DRDO Recruitment

Astrosurf
 

Click here for a printer-friendly page Printer-friendly page

Send gifts throughout India



EXPRESSindia.com
News   Business    Sports   Entertainment
The Indian Express | The Financial Express | Latest News | Screen | Express Computers
Travel | MatrimonialsCareersLifestyle | Astrology
E-Cards | Graffiti | Environment | Jewellery | Info-tech | Power