Bagan to miss key players against JCT

CALCUTTA, March 8: Defending Philips National Football League champions Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills of Phagwara have their task cut out. They have to get atleast two more points from their remaining two matches to avoid relegation. Not really as easy a task as their star striker Stephen Abarowei would make it out to be.

The Nigerian’s optimism perhaps comes from the knowledge that Bagan will be missing some of their key players tomorrow. Basudev Moondal, the creative mid-fielder, has already exhausted his quota of 45 matches and defender Ranjan Dey is out with two bookings. Dipendu Biswas is a doubtful starter and Amit Das is on the verge of completing his 45 matches for the season.

These factors will definitely be a cause of worry for Bagan coach T K Chatunni, but he has two foreigners to bank upon in the striking zone. Nigerian Chima Okerie and Sri Lankan Roshan Pereira should play important roles once again.

Even JCT’s fortunes rest on their foreigners. Abarowei, of course, is their key player,having picked up four man-of-the-match awards already. However, he is carrying an injury, received in the last match against Mahindras. The other Africans, Abdul Latif Seriki, Emeka Achilefu and Musa Aliu too can save coach Sukhwinder Singh a lot of embarrassment.