Chance for Indian Nationals to have a shot at maiden title

Despite a very compact and balanced side, former champions Shashtri Club had not so far come up to their reputation in exhibiting a good brand of soccer. Shastri’s main strength lies in their formidable defence line consisting of dependable stopper-backs, namely Mohd. Arif and Ravinder Singh along with two full-backs Hisham Ali and Simon Peter. Mid-fielders Emmunal, Mahipal and Gyanranjan Behra are definitely an experienced combination to feed well to their upfront-line players namely former international Bhupinder Thakur, Vimal Thapa and Bhupinder Rawat to fetch winning goals for their side. Shastri will miss the services of their mid-fielder Surinder Singh Bisht following two yellow cards received during Super League matches.

In his place, Shahstri will field Bernad Job to play as a forward while nippy Vimal Thapa will play the sheet anchor role in the mid-field as well as in upfront. Shastri have two dependable custodians in Javed Khan and Bishwanath Deb who helped his team to reach in the final.

Shastri reached in the final after topping group-II with 13 points and prevailed over Youngmen, who stood number two team in group-I, by 5-4 in the sudden death (tie-breaker) in the second semi-final.

While on the other hand, Indian Nationals, who have entered in the final for the second time, are desperately trying their luck in clinching their maiden league title since long, will be depending on their key player — Pushpender Kundu, Kamal Bhakuni and Abdul Waquar in defence line, Deepak Bisht, Deepak Gurang and Joy Paul Raj in mid-field who will assist their forwads Adedji Anthony, Blessing Ughojo, Amarjeet Singh Sahani and Shyam Kumar. Two custodians Prosanta Bimal and Rahul Bhujel will definitely defend their citadel under the bar firmly.

National will miss the services of their key player Afrab Ashraf who received two yellow cards. Other players including Charles Esheku and Tirlok Bisht can also be tried.

Nationals, who topped group-I with 10 points, reached in the final after beating last year’s runners-up Hindustan Club by a solitary golden goal and had also prevailed over last year’s winners I.A.F.

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is sponsoring this league for the fourth successive year.

An exhibition football match between Delhi Sports Journalists XI and Delhi Veteran Footballers (above 50 years age) will also be played prior to the final.