Date:20/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112056072000.htm

Sport - Football

BEML takes on Indian Bank in opener

BANGALORE: Local challenger BEML (Bangalore) will take on Indian Bank (Chennai) in the preliminary knock-out opener of the 30th Federation Cup football tournament that gets underway at the Bangalore football stadium here on Thursday.

A major national-level football tournament is coming to Bangalore after almost three long years and with eight outstation teams locking horns with the two local giants — HASC and BEML — the crowds should be back. While Groups A and B matches are to be held in Bangalore, Groups C and D will be held at Assam and Manipur respectively and the four group winners will join the elite 12 teams, now figuring in the I League for the tournament proper beginning at Kolkata from December 3.

Scientific training

BEML, runner-up in the State senior division league sounded optimistic. Coach Karuna Murthy has set his sights beyond Indian Bank and even Salgaocar SC which it would meet next, if the team manages to get past the bankmen from Chennai.

“We have been training for this Federation Cup for nearly three months, with special diet and scientific training. With Nigerian Obinna Winners (stopper) and Samuel Jackson (striker) from Ghana as the two foreign recruits and Jotin Singh as spearhead, the team does have a balanced look about it. With the management promising to regularise 60% of the players with permanent jobs, there is expectations from the players to deliver,” said the coach.

The matches will kick off at 3.15.

The fixtures: November 20: BEML v Indian Bank; Nov 21: SBT v BMFC; Nov. 22: Salgaocar vs winner of BEML/ IB; Nov. 23: ICF v Sesa (Goa) v ICF (Chennai); Nov: 24: Group A final; Nov 25: HASC v Pune FC; Nov 26: Viva Kerala v Sesa/ICF winner; Nov 27: rest day; Nov. 28: group B final.