Languishing JCT looks to start National League on clean slate

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Jan 4 (UNI) JCT would want to begin their National Football League campaign on a winning note to set the pace for tougher outings in the next few rounds when they take on Mohammedan Sporting in the inaugural match of the 11th edition of the tournament here tomorrow.

The Punjab side, who finished sixth last year, will cross swords with more formidable sides in the next three rounds.

They take on Federation Cup winners Mohan Bagan on January 10 and play Durand Cup winners Dempo on Januray 22, both matches at Ludhiana, though they have a relatively easier match against newly promoted Churchill Brothers in between on January 17.

JCT has been languishing for quite a long time without much success at the top level after emerging winners in the first edition in 1996-97.

In that edition, the millmen had the services of some of the best players of the country with Baichung Bhutia, I M Vijayan, Carlton Chapman and Stephen Abarowei in the rolls of the lone northern Indian club in the League.

But, with the departure of these players for greener pastures, the millmen's triumphs at the top level had been few and far between though they missed the bus at the last hurdles on a few occasions.

Lack of consistency has been JCT's ban. They started the season on a happy note and were on course to end their long title drought by pocketing Durand Cup only to be denied by Dempo in the title round with the Goan side winning their maiden title via tie-breaker in the third oldest tournament in the world.

The tournament was also devoid of top players with Mohan Bagan and reigning NFL champions Mahindra fielding depleted sides as their key players were preparing for the Doha Asiad.

The Federation Cup saw all the top players taking field after being freed of national duties, but JCT had little to show as they crashed out of the country's premier knock-out tournament, losing their first match against unfancied Salgaocar, who were relagated to the second division last season.

After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally inaugurates the tournament tomorrow, coach Sukhwinder Singh would be hoping that Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh, Renedy Singh and untiring Parveen Kumar would come out good and ensure that they collect full points from the match.

Mohammedan Sporting has also little to boast off except for enjoying the Kolkata giant tag still.

They failed to reach quarter-finals in the Durand Cup, losing out to Air India and could not reach the semi-finals in the IFA Shield though they held Mohan Bagan and lost by a narrow margin of 1-0 against Chinese side Shenzen FC.

Mohammedan had never been a strong side in the NFL and they finished eighth last year just ahead of relegated Salgaocar.

But, the Subhas Bhowmick-coach team could take some heart from their showing in the Federation Cup where they went upto quarter-finals beating Goa's Vasco in the first stage and then made life difficult for full-strength Mahindra though the Mumbai side eventually won the match in the injury time.

The Kolkata side traditionally enjoys good support from the Delhi crowd and they would be looking to turn JCT applecart upside down tomorrow.

UNI

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X