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Comment: Can Mohun Bagan Break Churchill’s Record?
Round 18 of the I-League sees two high profile teams square-off as Churchill Brothers host Mohun Bagan on Wednesday. Goal.com wonders whether the Green and Maroons can get the better of Churchill Brothers in their own backyard.
02-Mar-2009 12:41:57 PM
In India, not many clubs have a healthy home record except
for a few which includes JCT, Air India, Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers. Ever
since Churchill Brothers have been promoted to the top division namely the
2006-07 season, they haven’t been beaten by any visiting side from Kolkata,
Mumbai, Punjab, Kerala or Bangalore.
An impeccable record to say the least! They have lost matches only to Goan sides primarily to Dempo SC and Sporting Clube De Goa. This just goes to show the dominance they have had in Goa.
It is vital to note here that out of those three seasons, two have been under the now Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa. Mohun Bagan does have an advantage over them with the ‘Karim’ factor as he knows the team inside out.
A coach is often aware of the strengths and weaknesses of his players and it is to remembered that most of the Churchill boys had prospered under Karim Bencherifa after being straight out of the Tata Football Academy (TFA). Even the Goan side’s star striker Odafa Okolie excelled when Karim called the shots at Churchill.
This season, Churchill Brothers have lost only once at home and it was a little more than two weeks ago when they went down disappointingly to Sporting Clube De Goa, in what was technically an away game for the former.
Over to Mohun Bagan and the Kolkata side haven’t gone down to Churchill Brothers in the league for the last three seasons. They have beaten Churchill Brothers in away games as earlier this season but not at home.
Last season, Bagan drew the away game with Bhaichung Bhutia scoring the equaliser in the 2-2 draw while he opened the account in the 2-1 home victory over Churchill. With Bhaichung Bhutia missing, it would certainly hurt Mohun Bagan and they understand this. One could see that when their general secretary Anjan Mitra wrote to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) complaining of the decision to award a yellow to their skipper.
But they can look to others for inspiration. In the two draws between these two clubs in the 2006-07 season, once it was Lalwampuia who equalised and on the other occasion, Jose Barreto’s brace saved the day.
This season Bagan have collected the maximum points amongst all the visiting teams to Goa so far of whatever games have been played by each side. They have won two and lost one.
But with Odafa Okolie and company being resolute in their purpose to win the league, Bagan would certainly find it tough. It would need something special from Bagan to breakthrough Churchill’s unimpeachable record at home against teams on the road.
And can Churchill Brothers at last beat Mohun Bagan in the league?
Rahul Bali.
An impeccable record to say the least! They have lost matches only to Goan sides primarily to Dempo SC and Sporting Clube De Goa. This just goes to show the dominance they have had in Goa.
It is vital to note here that out of those three seasons, two have been under the now Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa. Mohun Bagan does have an advantage over them with the ‘Karim’ factor as he knows the team inside out.
A coach is often aware of the strengths and weaknesses of his players and it is to remembered that most of the Churchill boys had prospered under Karim Bencherifa after being straight out of the Tata Football Academy (TFA). Even the Goan side’s star striker Odafa Okolie excelled when Karim called the shots at Churchill.
This season, Churchill Brothers have lost only once at home and it was a little more than two weeks ago when they went down disappointingly to Sporting Clube De Goa, in what was technically an away game for the former.
Over to Mohun Bagan and the Kolkata side haven’t gone down to Churchill Brothers in the league for the last three seasons. They have beaten Churchill Brothers in away games as earlier this season but not at home.
Last season, Bagan drew the away game with Bhaichung Bhutia scoring the equaliser in the 2-2 draw while he opened the account in the 2-1 home victory over Churchill. With Bhaichung Bhutia missing, it would certainly hurt Mohun Bagan and they understand this. One could see that when their general secretary Anjan Mitra wrote to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) complaining of the decision to award a yellow to their skipper.
But they can look to others for inspiration. In the two draws between these two clubs in the 2006-07 season, once it was Lalwampuia who equalised and on the other occasion, Jose Barreto’s brace saved the day.
This season Bagan have collected the maximum points amongst all the visiting teams to Goa so far of whatever games have been played by each side. They have won two and lost one.
But with Odafa Okolie and company being resolute in their purpose to win the league, Bagan would certainly find it tough. It would need something special from Bagan to breakthrough Churchill’s unimpeachable record at home against teams on the road.
And can Churchill Brothers at last beat Mohun Bagan in the league?
Rahul Bali.
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