MARGAO, Nov 27: Dempo Sports Club will have to improve drastically to get the desired result against Mohun Bagan in a eighth round clash of the I-League at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday.
Dempo are close on the heels of leaders East Bengal but even coach Armando Colaco has acknowledged in private that the defending champions must improve or risk being left out of the title race.
“I am of course happy with the points at the moment. We have won matches as well but I am not happy with the performance of the team. We must improve,” Colaco told his players at the end of a training session on Tuesday.
Dempo were at their worst in the last clash against Air India but still managed to garner full points after Joaquim Abranches snatched a 90th minute winner. The win against Sikkim United and at home against Churchill Brothers also came at the end, even though the defending champions seemed second best throughout the 90 minute duel.
On Wednesday, Dempo will ring in the changes to upstage Mohun Bagan who too have had problems of their own. The possible inclusion of defender Rowilson Rodrigues ahead of Cresson Antao is being talked about to counter Odafe Okolie’s threat. Rowilson could stick on to the Nigerian striker like a leech.
The rest of the squad, including Godwin Franco in the centre of midfield, will remain the same. Former Arsenal striker Rohan Ricketts will again have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench.
Mohun Bagan, after a run of three consecutive victories, were grounded by Mumbai FC. The lowly-ranked Mumbai FC managed to hold the Kolkata side to a 1-1 draw in Karim Bencherifa’s first match in charge as coach of the Mariners.
Bencherifa, as he returns to Goa for the first time since leaving Salgaocar Football Club, will need to juggle with his options as he grapples with a host of injury woes.
Dempo are close on the heels of leaders East Bengal but even coach Armando Colaco has acknowledged in private that the defending champions must improve or risk being left out of the title race.
“I am of course happy with the points at the moment. We have won matches as well but I am not happy with the performance of the team. We must improve,” Colaco told his players at the end of a training session on Tuesday.
Dempo were at their worst in the last clash against Air India but still managed to garner full points after Joaquim Abranches snatched a 90th minute winner. The win against Sikkim United and at home against Churchill Brothers also came at the end, even though the defending champions seemed second best throughout the 90 minute duel.
On Wednesday, Dempo will ring in the changes to upstage Mohun Bagan who too have had problems of their own. The possible inclusion of defender Rowilson Rodrigues ahead of Cresson Antao is being talked about to counter Odafe Okolie’s threat. Rowilson could stick on to the Nigerian striker like a leech.
The rest of the squad, including Godwin Franco in the centre of midfield, will remain the same. Former Arsenal striker Rohan Ricketts will again have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench.
Mohun Bagan, after a run of three consecutive victories, were grounded by Mumbai FC. The lowly-ranked Mumbai FC managed to hold the Kolkata side to a 1-1 draw in Karim Bencherifa’s first match in charge as coach of the Mariners.
Bencherifa, as he returns to Goa for the first time since leaving Salgaocar Football Club, will need to juggle with his options as he grapples with a host of injury woes.
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