Consistent Goa has an edge

By Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI, NOV. 16 Kerala's flamboyant attack does not know when to stop. So does Goa's disciplined defence. Football can never be just a serious business of winning matches when there is such a culture clash between rivals, despite the high stakes in the 57th Santosh Trophy National football championships final on Saturday. Entertainment will rank high on the menu if these two nine-time finalists are able to reproduce even half of the form and flair flaunted so far, in a contest to decide India number one.

Kerala had blown away opponents in each of the three matches in the run-up to the final, netting 13 goals for a four plus average. Goa came in a hard way, building up confidence gradually, secure in the knowledge that its defence has not conceded a goal in three matches (excluding a semifinals tie- breaker against Railways). Both teams have their strengths, but it is their common weakness for positive, attacking football which may ignite passion in the stands and infuse life into the deciding tie.

Goa has an edge with its consistency over the last three outings, tightening up its game in every match. Kerala's performance graph so far has more highs than lows, but with too many hairpin bends for its own good. In a high-pressure situation like the Santosh Trophy final, Goa's brick-by-brick approach may prove more effective than Kerala's roller-coaster ride, every defensive lapse leading to a goal, victory going to the side making the least mistake.

If Kerala coach M.Peethambaran is to be believed, such safety standards are irrelevant. ``Victory will go to the team scoring the most goals. Kerala is the best attacking side of the tournament, so our forwards will continue their work,'' he said. ``I know we have also taken in some goals, but then football is about scoring more than your opposition.'' It is a fantasy statement, but then his team, when on the attack, has been playing the sort of fantasy football to justify it.

Speed and athleticism are pronounced in this Kerala squad, the first point of attack being the player who gains ball possession. Like a fountain, the attack picks up momentum with every move, climaxing in a breathtaking goal. Ashif Saheer is the mastermind, scoring through headers, overhead kicks, on-the-run shots and rebounds. When the attention is on him, others like Abdul Hakim, S.Ignatious and even overlapping defenders get into the act.

Kerala's problem is in its defence and goalkeeping. Coach Peethambaran's worry is whether the combined effort from the rearguard will neutralise the hard work put in by his players in the rival half. Custodians T.G.Purushothaman and Jobby Joseph have not infused confidence so far, first choice goalkeeper Feroz Sharief is supposed to be ``out of form'', according to the coach. Defensive mistakes continue to happen, almost as if the guardians in the deep are mentally preoccupied with helping out the attack.

Goa does not have any such obvious weak links, since the whole team operates like a joint defensive or attacking unit, guided by skipper Mahesh Gawli or Noel Wilson respectively. Players run into positions in such a way that there is always a man free for a pass, either out of defence or when on the attack. This hands- on approach, leading to a stream of triangular passes, calls for a lot of hard running in the heat. This young team is able to do it from start to finish.

Coach Armando Colaso's boys have displayed a sense of discipline not seen in Goan sides, especially when regrouping into defensive positions. The understanding displayed by the defensive phalanx of Samir Naik, Seby Coelho, Gawli and Rajesh Meetei, aided by Kalyan Chaubey's goalkeeping, has been outstanding from the first match onwards. Kerala's biggest test will be to withstand the pressure once the ball enters the Goan half, exerted by the watchful halfline of Noel Wilson, Ratan Singh, Jose Colaso and Rocky Barretto.

These skilful, tireless midfielders also assert themselves in the attack, setting up strikers Abhay Kumar, Levy Coelho with incisive passes, then darting into positions for taking potshots at the goal. So far, Goa has scored only twice in three matches, but its forwards have come up against brilliant goalkeepers like Manipur's Jiten Singh or tight defences of Punjab and Railways. In comparison, Kerala at the back is like a sieve.

Both teams are at full strength, fielding almost the same side which played the semifinals, Sanush Raj getting a place in the starting line-up for Kerala in place of Sameer.K likely to be the only significant change. Both sides will be playing their 10th Santosh Trophy final, winning three out of nine appearances each. Now this Mumbai contest promises to be a thrilling one, regardless of the outcome.

The teams (from): Kerala:Purushothaman T.G, Binesh.K, Shivakumar.V, Sanush Raj, Suresh Babu.V, Sabeer Ali, Abdul Naushad, Ashif Saheer, Ignatious.S, Abdul Hakeem, Jobby Joseph, Dileep.N.K, Sunil Kumar.A, Girish.N.M, Biju Kumar.T.V, Ajayan.K. Coach: M.Peethambaran.

Goa: Kalyan Chaubey, Samir Naik, Seby Coelho, Mahesh Gawli, Rajesh Meetei, Ratan Singh, Noel Wilson, Jose Colaso, Rocky Barretto, Abhay Kumar, Levy Coelho, Francis Fernandes, Selwyn Fernandes, Bhola Dey, Agnelo Colaco, Sebastian Endro, Clifford Miranda. Coach: Armando Colaso.

Route to final

Kerala-bt Tamil Nadu 5-3 (semifinal), bt Orissa 3-1 and Assam 5-2 (both quarterfinal league). Goals for 13, Goals against 6.

Goa-bt Railways 4-2 via the tie- breaker, full-time 0-0 (semifinal), bt Punjab 1-0 and Manipur 1-0 (both quarterfinal league). Goals for 2, Goals against 0.

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