Air India to clash against Dempo in I League tomorrow

Margao, Oct 25 (UNI) Defending champions Dempo Sports Club after drubbing by 1-4 against Safa in the AFC Cup Semifinals, would be looking to capitalise on home advantage when they clash against Air India in the ONGC I League Championship match to be played here at Nehru stadium, Fatorda, tomorrow.

Dempo Coach Arman Colaco said his key Brazilian mid fielder Roberto Mendes Silva (Beto) will be out tomorrow as he needed rest due to bruised shoulder. Except him the team is fully fit and raring to go. ''Our first aim tommorow is to garner points and increase our points tally,'' he said. The team, which played two outings, lost to JCT in the opening match and won against Vasco with only three points to their credit.

He said Air India is a good team and had won two and drew two out of four matches and stands presently unbeaten with eight points and looks menancing with their perfomance.

''Hope the boys click tomorrow and snatch points from the Air India,'' the coach added.

Air India Coach Bimal Ghosh said, Dempo is a very good side and playing infront of home crowd, which is and advatage for them.

He said Chukuma Odafe and Sahid Farid both defenders, who booked two yellow cards, will be out against Dempo tomorrow.

A well knit Dempo looks formidable with Renty Martin, Mboyo Iyomi or Joaquim Abranches combining as a potent strike force and efficent mid-field consisting of hard working Clifford Mirinda, Jerry Zinrsingh, Nascimento Silveria, Climax Lawrence and Anthony Pereira. Their defence, spearheaded by Mahesh Gawali along with Valerain Rebello, John Dias and Sameer Naik, played an important role.

Buoyed by two wins in row against East Bengal and Chirag after two draws against Mohammedan Sporting and Mohan Bagan, Air India with eight points would certainly be going all out to maintain their unbeaten race and to catch up with Sporting Club De Goa, topping the table with 12 points from five matches and would be heavily dependent on Surojit Roy, Nigerian Recruit Emanuel, Uttam Singh, Micharl Toyo, Samson Singh and Kailash Patil to deliver the goods.

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