MSP -- a blend of experienced heads with talented young players -- is capable of springing a surprise or two.

The State Police team has a very interesting record in Super Division. Last year, they were relegated from Super Division to Senior Division but they made a strong comeback by finishing runners-up to Fr Agnel in the Senior Division league and gained promotion. MSP is an unexpected lot, capable of playing like men possessed one day and like school children the next.

Striker Abdul Abid is arguably is the best ball player in Mumbai. A popular player among his team-mates, Abid was the member of Mahasrashtra team which won the gold in the Manipur National Games.

It is surprising that Abid missed the talent scouts of big Mumbai teams. Mahindras' SS Hakim, BMFC's Jamshed Nassiri and Air-India's Bimal Ghosh overlooked the talented player. Amongthe other talented lot are lanky defender Ramesh Shaikh, striker Abdul Faim and medio Xavier Bernard.This year, MSP will have the services of Central Railway's Francis Fernandes as their coach. The 40-year-old Fernandes played a full season with Dadar XI B last season in Senior Division. Famous for his hunger for goals despite his age, Fernandes feels his team is high on confidence. ``They are very talented and hard-working players. In the coming years, you'll see three or four players donning colours of the National team.''

The only problem Fernandes faces is injury to three players -- Xavier, Kevin Joseph and Sameer Shaikh.

MSP coach: Francis Fernandes

Last year's position: Champion Senior Division

Team: Goalkeepers: Sajid Ansari, Ajay Bonge, Chadrakant Kharade, Mahmood Shaikh. Defenders: Naaem Khan, Darshan Wadekar, Samir Shaikh, Praveen Waigankar, Sadiq Ali, Kevin Joseph, Nitin Redekar Medio:Xavier Bernard (i), Laxman Thakur, Adbul Abid, Nirmoy Roy, Anil Kamble, Javed Pathan, Rajender Hande,Suryakant Kamani, Devidas Mahadik, Faihmuddin. Strikers: Abdul Faim, Anil Shinde, Sayeed Ansari, Sanjay Surve, Gajandand More, Baban Paure, B Adhikari, Kailash Chand, Pramod Sail.