AIFF Media TeamNEW DELHI: The wait is finally over. India’s top clubs are all set to renew their rivalry as the country’s premier club competition, the I-League, is all set to kick-off on Saturday (October 6, 2012). Among the four matches scheduled on the first day, the Goan Derby where Dempo SC will be taking on strong contenders Churchill Brothers, will stay the cynosure of all eyes.
Ten Action will be showing 75 live and delayed matches with Arrows vs Mumbai FC in Kolkata at 2:30pm IST being the first. The other live match on the first day stays the Goan Derby.
For the record, the new entries this season are Bhaichung Bhutia’s United Sikkim Football Club and ONGC. Dempo finished with 57 points from 26 games last season to clinch their fifth league (including the National Football League). East Bengal gave Armando Colaco and Co. a good run for their money but initial hiccups cost them and the red-and-gold had to be content finishing six points behind Dempo.
Expectations will be high from star-studded Churchill Brothers who displayed good attacking football in the recently concluded Fed Cup. Coached by veteran coach Subhash Bhowmick, the Goan side have the likes of Gabonese Henry Antchouet, Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva and Lebanese recruits Akram Moghrabi and Bilal Najjarin.
Salgaocar, who surprised all by winning the 2010-11 I-League in style, will seek to mend fences after a forgettable last season where they finished sixth with 44 points. Mohun Bagan too will try and revive their fortunes after not being able to keep pace with their billing of a star-studded team in not only the I-League last season but also the Federation Cup.
Prayag United SC – knocked out in the group stages of the Fed Cup – will also look to resurrect their ship and bag their first trophy especially after roping in quite a few big names including Costa Rican World Cupper Carlos Hernandez. The likes of goal-machine Ranty Martins, India’s No.1 under the under Subrata Pal and senior National Team defender Gouramangi Singh add to the list of stars.
Pune FC stay the dark horses. A talented side with a balanced line-up and bench, they will stay in contention for sure.
Not to forget AIFF’s developmental team Pailan Arrows. The Arrows, under India U-22 Coach Arthur Papas, who happens to be the youngest Youth Coach in the World, did put up a promising show in the Federation Cup. It’s upto them to live up to the promise.
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