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This is an archive article published on March 29, 1998

Salgaocar, Bagan in Super Cup clash

CALCUTTA, March 28: It will be T K Chathunni's evening tomorrow. He coached two teams to victory in the two most prestigious club football t...

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CALCUTTA, March 28: It will be T K Chathunni’s evening tomorrow. He coached two teams to victory in the two most prestigious club football tournaments of the domestic season. Both the teams will have the honour of meeting each other tomorrow at the Salt Lake Stadium by virtue of these very wins.

Federation Cup champions Salgaocar and National League champions Mohun Bagan clash for the Super Cup, an exhibition match played between the winners of the two AIFF organised tournaments. The earnings from this match will go into the benevolent fund for footballers. The evening will also see the award ceremony of the second National League.

Salgaocar, who finished third in the National League, arrived in the city immediately after their last League game against JCT in Delhi. Although this game may not mean too much for either team, they will not take it lightly. Salgaocar coach Shabbir Ali in particular has a lot to prove to the clubs former coach Chathunni.

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Salgaocar arrived without two of their main playersBruno Coutinho and Sanaton Singh. Both missed the JCT tie due to injury. Singh incidentally, won four man-of-the-match awards in the National League and was one of the best players in view. Striker Jude Odegah might miss the tie due to a groin injury and defender Roque Perreira is down with fever.

Bagan too have been practicing in right earnest. Of course, the days immediately after the League went into celebrations, but Chathunni is quite clear that he would want to drive home his point with the Super Cup win. Bagan too is likely to be depleted side tomorrow as injuries and tiredness at the end of a long season have started taking their toll.

The match apart, various prizes will be given for the National League. A special panel of experts finalised the list of awardess, which was declared today. The easiest to select among them was Raman Vijayan of FC Kochin, who will take home the prize for the highest scorer. Having scored 10 goals in 18 games, he has one more than Bagan’s Chima Okerie. AlthoughT.K. Chathunni was a front-runner for the best coach of the League award, Air India’s Bimal Ghosh grabbed it after giving his team a dream start in the League. Air India was one of the better-organised teams. There might have been many guesses for the Player of the Tournament award, eventually, the most deserving player received it. Mohun Bagan’s Chima Okerie had a major say in the outcome of the League and was named the Best Player of the League. In the true spirit of the game, nationality was not made a criteria while selecting the footballer for this award. Okerie will receive Rs 1 lakh.

Salgaocar’s Sanatan Singh was named the Most Promising Player while East Bengal’s Kalyan Chaubey was declared the Best Goalkeeper. Mohun Bagan medio Satyajit Chatterjee will receive a special award for Leadership and Outstanding Performance while Gulab Singh Chauhan is the Best referee this time.

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List of awardees: Fair Play: Salgaocar. Man of Tournament: Chima Okerie (Mohun Bagan). Highest Scorer: RamanVijayan (FC Kochin). Most Promising Player: Sanatan Singh (Salgaocar). Best Coach: Bimal Ghosh (Air-India). Best Referee: Gulab Singh Chauhan. Best Assistant Referee: Ravi Shankar. Best Goalkeeper: Kalyan Chaubey (East Bengal). Special Award: Satyajit Chatterjee (Mohun Bagan)

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