MUMBAI, January 28: Churchill Brothers will have the advantage against bottom-placed Mahindras when they face each other in a Philips National Football League match here at the Cooperage tomorrow.Churchill have the confidence of two successive wins behind them -- against Indian Bank and Dempo -- after a dry start against JCT and a fiasco over the use of `official ball' against East Bengal. The match was later awarded to East Bengal with three points.
``Defender Emeke Okeke is only a doubtful starter as he has fever,'' informed Armando Colaso, technical director of the club. ``The team's performance will improve and we will finish among the top four,'' he added. Churchill's strength lies in their mid-field comprising captain Tejinder Kumar, Aqueel Ansari and Oscar Hunda. The strikers Kasif Jamal, Zimbabwean Samuel Herneiki, Marcus Carvalho and the nippy Nigerian Chibuzor Nmakanma have combined well so far. On the other hand, despite good performances, Mahindras have failed to climb up the points table.They are placed at the bottom with five points from nine matches. Except for the 1-0 win against JCT and a 2-2 draw against Air-India, the team has failed to score.
Mahindras will miss the services of Nepalese striker Hari Khadka (out of station) and defender Sanjay Dayal who had two booking from the previous matches. ``Santosh Kashyap has recovered from the knee-injury and he will join the mid-field,'' informed Deryck de Sousa, Mahindras coach. Nigerian Onyeka in defence has won the Man of the Match award twice in the League and is expected to do well tomorrow.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
