New striker gives Churchill Brothers chance for grand double

Churchill, who clinched their maiden title in the Director’s Special Goa Professional Football League on Sunday, crowned it with their triumph in the State under-19 league the following day.

Churchill juniors, who defeated Salgaocar in the final, have their eyes set on the proposed National Junior (under-19) League, a competition meant for the junior squads of the first division teams of the National League.

“Our coach Danny McLennan, who was on holiday, is scheduled to join the team within a couple of days. With his arrival, the club will intensify its preparation for all-India tournaments,” said Alemao.

McLennan, a former Scottish international who played forGlasgow Rangers and East Fife in the 50s and has coached in Asia and Africa since 1965, had guided Churchill to second place in the inaugural edition of the National League.

Talented Africans: The club team, which was coached by Arman Colaco in the absence of McLennan during the recent Goan league, has a few talented African players in its ranks.

“One of our main worries is the inconsistency of the frontline. This problem, however, will be solved with the arrival of a leading striker from Ghana. The deal has already been settled and we are awaiting for him to join the training,” said Alemao.

The new striker, who is expected to join Marcus Carvalo and Francis Sliveira in the attack, is the third Ghanian to don the club shirts this season, after defender Osumanul Husseini and goalkeeper Edwards.

“The golkeeper’s slot has been a major headache for us. Edwards’ induction has thankfully brought and end to this too,” he said.

Nigerian mid-fielder Oscar Honde is the other foreigner in the clubranks.

Santan Colaco, Cyril Barreto, Mario Soares and Roque Pereira are some of the prominent desi

stars who will don the Churchill Brothers colours this season.

Churchill, who were third in the last edition of the National League, are one of the 12 sides which vie for honours in the first edition of this year’s league.

A good run: “We had a fine run in the Goan league this year,” said Alemao, who is also the president of the Goa Football Association. “Our only defeat was against Vasco. The team fared exceptionally well in the crucial league match against Dempo which we won 2-0.”

Churchill, who topped the league with 15 points, two more than Salgaocar, got the trophy and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. Salgaocar, who topped the first phase of the league with 10 points from four matches, suffered a setback in the second phase when they were held to two successive draws and were beaten by Churchill Brothers.

Churchill Brothers will take part in the Governor’s Gold Cup, Sikkim, and theRovers Cup before they start their National League campaign, according to Alemao, who lost to Ramakant Angle in the recent Parliamentary elections from Murmagao constituency.