Bengal may have tough time against Mahindras

Bengal may have tough time against Mahindras
Dharmendra Jore

Mumbai, March 8: After their fabulous win over Salgoacar a couple of days ago, Mumbai's Mahindra United have a tough job to be done on Friday when they meet leaders East Bengal in the National Football League match at the Cooperage.

No doubt, Bengal are the favourites to win the match. But they should not win it too easily. Mahindras have staged a comeback with some of their boys playing a good game in the later stages of the tournament. The team has one of the most trusted man under the bar -- Indian goalkeeper Virender Singh whose `saving' ability was all evident against the might of Salgaocar. Forward Raman Vijayan is getting better match by match; he's regaining his strength after a long injury lay-off. Raman, along with Manjit Sigh and S Venktesh could put the rivals under pressure. Mid-fielders Habib Adekunle, skipper Aqeel Ansari, Satish Minz and Anthony Pereira have been doing a satisfactory job. Defenders Ramesh Razak, Gholam Reza and Tapan Ghosh are in good nick.

East Bengal, on the other hand, have a very well balanced side and their forward line consisting of Bipendu Biswas, Nigerian import Omolaja Olalekem and Dipankar Roy along with substitute Srikantha Dutta has always been threatening the rival defence.

Their mid-fielders Isiaka Awoyami, Chandan Das, Suley Musah and Carlton Chapman -- all masters of good passes. In defence they have two players -- Surkumar Singh and Deepak Mondal, who have been called for the pre-World Cup camp to be held at Bangalore from March 25. Tatan Singh will also be there.