Mohun Bagan is firm favourite

By S.R. Suryanarayan

CHENNAI, AUG. 29. In every sense this has been an unusual fortnight of football in the metropolis. Reputed teams bowed out early, a new club like Sporting Club de Goa made headlines, while an unsung side like Dempo Goa reached the title round to challenge the redoubtable one of the lot, Mohun Bagan, Kolkata.

The Federation Cup this time has been one long saga of ups and downs, but in the end no organiser could have asked for a better line-up for the final. A Kolkata club taking on a Goa club, fittingly representing the two power blocks of the game. But there the symmetry ends. For, on paper Mohun Bagan looks the overwhelming favourite to retain the glittering trophy as compared to Dempo, which had never quite imagined reaching this far, let alone dreamed of a stake in the final honours, which includes a prize money of Rs 10 lakhs.

Just a glance at Bagan's record in this competition is enough proof of the might of this glamour side: 14th entry into the final, 10 times victorious, including twice jointly with East Bengal, and, what is most significant, the only team which has lived up to expectations in the current 24th edition. A champion team comes off best in adversity and that sums up Bagan's campaign till date when `ground conditions' had been shown by some teams as the reason for their below par show.

Dempo on the other hand can think of only its 1997 show in Kolkata when it finished runner-up to East Bengal as its best record. But the Goan side has never quite been a front runner since, not even being a member in the National Football League, something that hurts the team officials no end. ``It is towards making it to the NFL that our efforts have been directed and reaching the final here has been one big encouragement,'' said Armando Colaco, Dempo coach, who was delighted that the team would have an added inspiration in the presence of Company chief, Mr Srinivas Dempo, during the final.

Having reached the final there is no question both contenders have to be at their best. That is the theory in which Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharjee believes. ``Dempo is a good side, whom we have not met in recent times. It has played well to reach this far and obviously we have to take it as a 50-50 match,'' he said, preferring to be modest despite having a bunch of top players, the trump card being the Brazilian Ramires Barreto, who never misses too many chances. He is a creator and a destroyer in one mould and none as yet has been able to shackle him. Mahindra United tried and paid the penalty in the semifinal. On him rests Subrata's hope of an early breakthrough and consolidation in the face of a few problems with regard to team composition.

Midfielder Rennedy Singh is out with a hamstring problem, defender Dulal Biswas has developed a thigh strain while another defender Hussain Mustafi sits out with two yellow card bookings. The plan is to bring Jayanta Sen in to fill the midfield and push Debjit Gosh to defence. Subrata knows it is never wise to tinker with a winning combination but circumstances force him.

The coach also knows he is dealing with a problem of riches, for essentially that is Mohun Bagan - indomitable. That is what the likes of James Singh, Basudev Mondal and the Nigerian Abdul Lateef Seriki, to name only a few, have made it.

Problems are there for Armando also. Nothing new for a team which set foot in the city and immediately found two players - Levy Coelho with kidney stone problem and Minguel Rodrigues with a viral attack - in hospital. Showing an iron resolve and a sense of collective responsibility, Dempo took the handicap in its stride. Levy is back now but Minguel is still doubtful as is Melvin Rodrigues, who sustained a hairline fracture on his left toe. But the utilitarian Nigerian Alesh Shamaki is back after serving a one-match suspension (two yellow cards) and Armando has to decide where to fit him best. He knows Bagan has ripped open every defence so far. ``We will fight. We have nothing to lose, nor are we under pressure. A final is a final. In 1987 we lost out through a golden goal. The same spirit will remain,'' he said while forecasting a rousing title clash.

History favours Bagan but Dempo believes, based on past performances, that Chennai is its lucky hunting ground. Unusual settings and yet it is difficult to state that all roads will lead to the Nehru Stadium on Thursday. Chennai fans have by far been indifferent. Hopefully for the final the response will be different, even rousing.

Thursday's match (final): Mohun Bagan, Kolkata v Dempo SC, Goa, 6 p.m.

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