Md Sporting and Air India to open their I-League campaign at Barasat

Kolkata, Sep 28 (UNI) Performance of the foreign players would be the key to success as newly promoted Mohammedan Sporting take on visiting Air India in the opener of the Second I-League at Vidyasagar stadium tomorrow.

After local favourites Mohun Bagan's 1-2 defeat at the hands of debutant Mumbai FC at Vidyasagar Stadium yesterday, Md Sporting coach Sabir Ali cautioned his boys not to take things lightly as Air India have flying machines to undo any side in the National League.

Ali is counting most on Liberian Theodore Sunday, supported by veteran Mike Okoro and just recruited Adebayo Adewusi, but much depends on how the ground behaves on the day of play.

Theodore Sunday was top scorer with ten goals in fourteen matches in the Kolkata Premier Leauge, that made Md Sporting the runners-up behind winners Mohun Bagan.

Though the Air India team arrived quite early this week, late monsoon rains have prevented them from having good practice sessions. Their foreign trio - Michael Tayo, Chukuma Udofia and Emanuel Ovieghara -are reckoning to make it to the team and break the rivals which would, however, be known on the match day.

UNI PC DPM PY AS1530