Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MARGAO, Jan 8: The Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills JCT, Phagwara, was the topic of interest at the Nehru Stadium on the eve of their Coca Cola National Football League match against Dempo Sports Club Goa.
JCT had reason to be talked about, considering the show they put up against Mohun Bagan, which read goalless in the end. However, as coach Sukhvinder Singh puts it, 8220;It was our day. It could be anybodys game. We matched them and the result was earned8221;.
For him the match against Dempo is just another encounter. 8220;We are a young side minus foreign players and they are playing well,8221; he says to underline the fact that JCT has managed to strike the right combination and take on the best teams in the country.
Dempo, under the guidance of T A Chathunni, face a big problem in finishing skills 8212; which was poor in their opener against Churchill Brothers. 8220;Our strikers were wayward. The opener in reality should have earned us full points. However, after a long discussion with teammates, Chathunni expectsa better display.
JCT, winners of the inaugural NFL in 1996-97, go into the tie with young blood and just three senior players to rely on 8212; Kuldeep Singh, Harjinder and Jasvir 8212; while the rest are juniors based on the JCT management policy this year. Interestingly for JCT, the tie on Saturday would be their ninth match of the season, with their best showing so far coming in the IFA Shield were they reached the semi-finals.
Dempo on the other hand have had a hectic season beginning with the All-India Central Revenue meet at Chennai 8212; where they finished runners-up, the Goa League and not forgetting the Federation Cup and the Rovers Cup where both JCT and Dempo played out a goalless draw and failed to advance.
JCT would miss the services of defender Deepak Mondal, formerly from the Tata Football Academy, owing to suspension and in all probability Sukhdev, who normally plays up-front would be pulled back.
In the forward line, Deepankar Roy, who has been getting the goals for JCT this season along withHardip Gill and Hardip Sanga look a formidable trio. Dempo, on the other hand who have the experienced Francis Silveira and Marcus Carvalho in their ranks and will bank heavily on the duo.
Sarvannan, majhi packed off: Meanwhile JCT have terminated8217; the services of newly signed Sanjay Majhi from Mohammaden Sporting and Sarvanan East Bengal. According to coach Sukhvinder both turned up for JCT in a couple of tournaments in Punjab and during the IFA Shield, but somehow they seemed disinterested in playing and did not seem to blend with the team.
