JOIN USBagan test for erratic Aircraftmen
There will be one big difference when the two teams face off in an I-League match at the Bangalore Football stadium on Wednesday — Murali will be playing for HASC’s opponents Bagan.
Those two matches, however, will provide the inspiration that the Aircraftmen, who are floundering at the bottom of the table, desperately need. The Bangalore side have just one point from eight matches so far and are already looking like the favourites for relegation.
Their defence, which was what carried them to saftey last season, has let them down at crucial times, and the incapability of the team to play 90 minutes of consistent football has seen them drop points from winning positions. The Aircraftmen have played well in the first half of most games only to capitulate in the second 45.
“We know we have to perform. We are going for a win, because we are tired of losing every game like this,” HASC manager M Muralidharan said. “Our defence has been a worry this season so we are making a few changes for the game against Bagan,” he added.
Former BEML player Ramesh and Goutham Debnath will replace fullbacks Chandandeep Singh and Bijoy Das while Lilliyan Kennath and Joseph Femi will again pair up in central defence.
In a surprising move, goalkeeper P Pramod, whose form has been patchy all season, was handed the captain’s armband in their previous match against Pune FC and the Kerala player will again lead his side when they face Bagan. A 4-5-1 formation is expected with A Hamza playing as a lone striker and fit-again RC Prakash playing behind Hamza in the midfield.
Bagan have several injury worries with Sunil Chhetri, fresh from his exploits in the SAFF Cup, former HASC player Satish Kumar Jr, Ashim Biswas, Hudson Lima and Mohanraj missing out due to injury. India’s most expensive player Odafa Onyeka Okolie will again be the man to watch out for, with the experienced Brazilian Jose Barreto partnering him uprfont.
SAFF Cup medallists Syed Rahim Nabi and Jewel Raja will be welcomed back by the title hopefuls, who are winless in two matches after their controversial success against East Bengal and sit fifth with 16 points from eight matches, five behind leaders Dempo. Nabi, however, might not start the game having picked up a head injury in the final against Afghanistan, with either Jewel Raja or Murali expected to feature in the midfield along with NP Pradeep.
“Murali will definitely play tomorrow and he has a good chance of starting the game as well,” Subrata Bhattacharya, Bagan’s technical director said during his team’s training session on Tuesday. “We are struggling with injuries to some key players, but we need to win tomorrow after dropping points in the last few games,” he added.
Other matches on Wednesday: At Thiruvananthapuram: Chirag United Kerala vs Churchill Brothers; At Margao: Sporting Clube De Goa vs Air India; At Kolkata: Pailan Arrows vs Prayag United.