Kerala seek home improvement, Maharashtra revenge

Kerala, seeded straight into the quarter-final league, have had a tremendous run here. After an impressive 5-2 win over Services, Kerala beat Karnataka 2-1. In their last league match, they held 29-time champion Bengal to a 1-1 draw to top that group.

Kerala put up a brilliant performance in the semi-finals against Goa, defeating them 2-0, dashing Goan hopes of making their fifth entry on the trot into the finals.

On the other hand, qualifiers Maharashtra look a compact and balanced team, good in all departments of the game and have shown improvement in each outing they had figured in. Maharashtra’s way to the title clash has been impressive.

They drubbed Haryana 7-0 in a preliminary Group VIII match and had a dream run in the quarter-final league where they beat Tamil Nadu 4-0. They then routed Punjab 2-0, but had to be content with splitting points with Goa after a 1-1 draw.

In the semi-finals, Maharashtra defeated reigning champion Bengal with a comprehensive 3-1 win to qualify for the summit clash after making their last entry in 1992-93 at Ernakulam.

On the merits and demerits of both contestants, Kerala’s fortune revolves around star international striker IM Vijayan. Despite an injury to his knee, he had been rallying the team well and his presence at the back would certainly boost the team morale.

The striking duo of Ignatius Sylvester-Ashif Saheer has been in good nick and can pose problems to the rival defence. Diminitive Saheer, who had scored a hat-trick against Services earlier, would be the dangerman for Maharashtra and if he clicks, the Maharashtra defence would be stretched.

The mid-field would be handled by Suresh Babu and Noushad. The performance of defenders Joe Paul Anchery and Jiju Jacob against the Goans was praiseworthy. Goalkeeper Nelson had done his duty to the satisfaction of his teammates.

Maharashtra too has a strong frontline and would rely on key striker Najeeb to deliver the goods. Najeeb and fellow strikers Manjit Singh and Abbas Ali Rizvi have been in good form and have combined very well.

Maharahstra has a strong midfiled spearheaded by captain Aqueel Ansari and hardworking Khalid Jamil, who has the ability to fall back to assist the defence and join the frontline to make the life of the rival defence miserable. Besides, Khalid Siddique can be dangerous with his sudden brusts.

Defender Ramesh Rajak, Tapan Ghosh and Naushad Moosa had done efficiently and the presence of a confident Virender Singh, one of the best custodians in this tourney, should add to their confidence.

However, the team which adapts to the conditions and settles more quickly will have the last laugh. But one thing is certain, there will not be any dearth of goals as both teams are very strong in the upfront.

The match starts at 1800 hours.

Win and get Rs 5 lakh

The WIFA, in its executive committee meeting held here today, has decided to give a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh to the Maharashtra football team if it wins the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy against Kerala tomorrow at Thrissur.

Announcing this, WIFA president Praful Patel said the decision has been conveyed to captain Aqueel Ansari today. “Maharashtra’s convincing victory over defending champions Bengal in the semi-finals and their entry into the final shows that substantial football is being played in the State and the entire effort of WIFA is in the right direction,” Patel said.

Santosh at Nagpur

NAGPUR: Nagpur will host the 57th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy early next year. This was announced by Western India Football Association (WIFA) president and Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel after a meeting of the WIFA executive committee meeting.

He said the All India Football Federation had allotted the next Santosh Trophy to Maharashtra and the WIFA executive had chosen Nagpur as the venue. This would be the first time that after two decades the National Football Championship will be played at Nagpur.

Patel said cluster matches of the championship will be played at Akola, Amravati, Gondia and Jalgaon in western Maharashtra.