Fit Salgaocar wary of E Bengal wit

Going by form, East Bengal should start as favourites. But forms do a ditching act at times, particularly when the side has problems. The star of last Sunday, Bhaichung Bhutia, is recuperating from fever. Although he attended practice today, he is a bit weak. But that should not prevent him from taking the field, even though he might have to be substituted. Bhutia’s co-striker, Nazimul Haque, was injured during practice yesterday. But he too insists that nothing can make him miss the final.

East Bengal technical director PK Banerjee is understandably worried. But he can draw solace from the fact that his back-up is one of the strongest at present. Both Bijen Singh and Shamsi Reza can do the striker’s job quite efficiently.

The crucial midfield is one area Banerjee should not be too concerned about. Abdul Sadique, Somatai Saiza, Shankarlal Chakraborty and Tushar Rakshit have been in good form so far. Rakshit, who was told to contain Basudev Mondal against Bagan, will be a free man tomorrow. He can very well display the scheming head he is known for. And with Saiza, the master of set pieces around, Banerjee can breath easy.

Shankarlal Chakraborty should continue to be the defensive midfielder, a role he has become so used to now. He will be adding teeth to the defence of Amitava Chanda, Samuel Omollo, Naushad Moosa and Ilyas Pasha.

Salgoacar coach TK Chathunni is very clear in his priorities. He feels he has to be careful of two men in the opponent camp; Bhutia and PK Banerjee.Bhutia with his swift reflexes, has to be kept in check, a lesson Chathunni learnt from Amal Dutta’s mistake.

Salgoacar can boast of a very strong defence with national level players doing services for them. Francis Coelho, Franky Barreto, Roberto Fernandes and Roque Pereira are capable of thwarting any attack. The Bhutia-charge will be the big test.

For Salgaocar, the mid-field will be taken care of by Domingo Vaz, Savio Medeira, Jules Alberto and S Venkatesh. Of course, like the previous match, Alberto might well move up with Bruno Coutinho falling back.

Veteran Coutinho needs a constant watching and the East Bengal camp is aware of that. Age has failed to dent the striker’s skills. Coutinho will be supported by Nigerian Jude Odegah up front.

Chathunni could not have complemented his counterpart Banerjee more when he admitted that he was wary of Banerjee’s shrewd mind. Chathunni knows that with Banerjee behind them, East Bengal have an edge. The Salgaocar coach is banking on his team’s superior fitness to help them earn their third Federation Cup title.