Date:21/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122154941600.htm

Sport - Football

Dempo has an edge over Mohun Bagan

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: In-form Dempo has an edge over Mohun Bagan in the Federation Cup football final at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Sunday.

“The Federation Cup always brings back the distressing memory of (Cristiano) Junior,” said Dempo coach Armando Colaco referring to the team’s Brazilian striker who died on the field in the 2004 final against Mohun Bagan in Bangalore. “I have told my boys to do it for Junior,” the coach said after finishing the team’s final practice session on Saturday.

The home side is going through a bad patch, struggling with injuries and a flagging form. Though currently placed second in the I-League, Bagan has not been very impressive in the tournament.

It has managed to make the final by beating East Bengal on penalties.

On the other hand Dempo has remained undefeated and reached the final taming Churchill Brothers, a side with arguably one of the best attack in the country.

Bagan’s anguish was best reflected in the words of its Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa: “When you are forced to play five matches in nine days, you shouldn’t expect your muscles to take it anymore.

“Thanks to the inhuman schedules, this is not going to be a fair competition between two sides, but we have faced this situation before and are mentally prepared for Sunday’s challenge as well.”

Bencherifa’s inconvenience stems from the fact that he will be missing captain Baichung Bhutia and defender Anand Vasan, both of whom suffered injury in the semifinal against East Bengal.

“I have told my boys that being in the final is a rarity and they must seize the opportunity under whatever conditions they are in,” Bencherifa said.

Dempo will be fielding an unchanged side.

Striker Ranty Martins, who was not well during the semifinal, is fit again and back in the side.