Date:03/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/03/stories/2007120360242200.htm

Sport - Football

Sporting Clube holds Mohun Bagan

Bagan earned its first point of the tournament
Houghton has called for an expanded format

KOLKATA: Former champion Mohun Bagan was held to a 1-1 draw by Sporting Clube de Goa here in a third-round match of the ONGC I-League football. In the match played at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday, Mohun Bagan found the lead for the first time in the tournament through Brazilian Jose Barreto early in the second half (48th minute).

But the home side failed to cling on to the slender lead as Sporting Clube equalised through its Nigerian striker Elijah Junior in the 57th minute.

Mohun Bagan has been on a disastrous stretch having lost the first two matches — 2-1 against JCT Mills and 3-1 against Viva Kerala — before it incurred further arrears in points with the draw against Sporting Clube.

This match brought the first point of the tournament for both Mohun Bagan and Sporting Clube, who now share the bottom place in the 10-team table. Mahindra United is the other team on one point but it has played a match less than the two.

Houghton seeks changes

Meanwhile, the Indian coach Bob Houghton has called for an expanded format to make the I-League more worthwhile.

Addressing a news conference, the Briton said, “It should be 32 to 40 weeks long and should be the dominating competition,” he said. By hosting the tournament in that manner, it would help keep 10 weeks free for international matches. “That way we can play at least 10 international matches in a year on FIFA allocated dates,” he said.

Houghton said he also wanted the domestic cup competition to be held within the 40-week period. “Tournaments like the Durand Cup and Federation Cup held within a span of 15-days doesn’t help anybody. It leaves the players drained,” he said.

Houghton also suggested that the national players stop playing in local leagues and other tournaments. “We can try the under-21 players. These tournaments will give them exposure.” This, he felt, would not only help the players to recover between matches but will also stop the ongoing tussle between club and the country. He felt a central contracts system could solve the problem.

The national coach laid stress on a common philosophy between club coaches and the national coaches and also urged to start club licensing at the earliest. — Principal Correspondent