Dempo hope to continue their title winning streak

Gurgaon, Feb 26 (UNI) Spearheaded by Nigerian duo of Ranti Martins and Chidi Edeh, the inaugural I-League champion Dempo, Goa will take on Federation Cup winners East Bengal in the one-off Rs 10-lakh prize money Super Cup match here tomorrow with the hope of adding this trophy too in their cup board.

Dempo, has bad memories of this cup. Last year after winning the National Football League champions, they were thrashed by Mohun Bagan 0-4.

Prior to this, the champions had also lost to Sporting Clube-de-Goa in the 2005.

So this time Dempo will like to assert their authority and re-establish their status as a major force in country's football.

Dempo was clearly the best side in the I-League and but for some minor hiccups in the second leg they always led their leaderboard ahead of Churchill Brothers and JCT.

Apart from the Nigerian duo, they also have Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva the best play-maker in the league.

East Bengal, on the other hand struggled through out and at one stage were on the verge of religation.

Though the Kolkata club will depend much on Brazilian sharpshooter Edmilson Marques, they have some top internationals in their ranks including Syed Rahim Nabi, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Mehtab Hussain Alvito D'Cunha and custodian Subrata Paul.

UNI HSB RAR KN1921