Dempo to clash with Mohan Bagan in I League tomorrow

Margao, Oct 30 (UNI) It will be a tough task for Kolkata's Mohan Bagan when they lock horns against defending champions Dempo Sports Club in their ONGC I League Football championship match to be played here at the Nehru stadium at Fatorda tomorrow.

Dempo coach Arman Colaco said his key Brazilian medio Roberto Mendes Silva (Beto), who is nursing a shoulder injury, will not play tomorrow. Nascimento Silveira in his place is doing well.

The coach is happy with his boys' performance in the last outing against Air India and hope they will put up the same performance against Mohan Bagan tomorrow and emerge winners.

''All the matches are important to us in the championship and respect every team'', the coach added.

Mohan Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa said ''we are badly in need of points as we are in precarious situation with only three points to our credit and need a win right now and if that comes in the away match, the morale will go high''.

According to Bencherifa, Dempo is a formidable side and good in all the departments and playing before the home crowd is an added advantage for them. The same team that played against East Bengal will play tomorrow, Karim said.

Holders Dempo are in an upbeat mood with a brilliant performance in their last match against Air India and are hoping to use the home advantage to snatch points against Bagan. Dempo are presently with six points from three outings with two wins against Vasco Sports club by 2-1 and against Air India by 3-1 and lost against JCT 0-2 in the opening match.

Their two matches, one against Churchill brothers and another against Mumbai Football were postponed, as the matches were clashing with the AFC Cup ties. Dempo will be going all out for a victory to improve their position.

While Mohan Bagan have not registered a single win out of the five outings they have played so far and were far from impressive.

The visitors presently are with only three points from three drawn matchs against Air India, Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal and lost againt Mumbai Footall club and against Sporting club de Goa, are desperately in need of points to stay in the competition.

Mohan Bagan have a good attacking line up spearheaded by Bhaichung Bhutia and Jose Ramirez Barreto and all eyes will be on Bhutia to find the target.

The defence is in the safe hands of Peter Odafe, Deepak Mondal, Rahul Kumar and N S Manju.

Dempo too have a formidable forward line with Ranty Martins and Mboyo Iyomi leading the attack. The third forward will be either Clifton Gonsalves or Nicolas Borges. Their half line will be manned by Cliax Lawrence, Jerry Zirsanga, Nascimento Silveira. Dempo have a solid defence marshalled by Mahesh Gawli, John Dias, Sameer Naik and Valeriano Rebel.

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