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Delhi Gears For The Big Final
In a repeat of last year’s finals, Mahindra United face defending champions Churchill Brothers in the world’s third oldest football tournament – the Durand Cup.
07-Sep-2008 8:52:50 AM
The tournament
named after Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, who started the football tournament as
means for entertainment and recreation for the English army in the British
India. The Durand Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the nation
for being next only to the English FA Cup and Scottish FA Cup in its existence.
Mahindra United have made a steady progress in the tournament so far defeating the likes of JCT in the semi-finals and coming off the league stage where they drew with Churchill Brothers and Mumbai FC and beat Army XI.
The Red Devils have been enshrouded in controversy over the last few weeks with regards to the Steven-Pradeep transfer saga but that hasn’t deterred the team’s performance. In fact, they are playing a much improved game from last year where they struggled to beat the oppositions in normal time and goals went missing.
Goalkeeper Subashish Roy Chowdhary might miss the finals due to a lump in his groin. He was substituted at half time in the semi-finals for Amit Nandy. This could be a key factor for Mahindra especially when you have a quality striker in the opposition ranks in the form of Odafa Okolie.
Churchill Brothers haven’t been in the form one saw last year and the free flowing game which one associated with the Goan side remains absent. They struggled to overcome a weak Sporting Club de Goa and could win thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya.
Coach Emeka Ezeugo has left out last year’s key performers Naoba Singh and Jenith back in Goa. His methods are yet to bring the desired results. Midfielders Vashum and Ashley suffered knocks in the last game though the duo is expected to be fit for the big game later tonight at the Ambedkar Stadium.
Odafa’s heroics against Mahindra United are well-known and it’s clear that the Nigerian has a liking for the Mumbai club. He scored the winner in last year’s finals, added another in the away game at Cooperage and a hat-trick at home in one of the most entertaining encounters of the I-League last season.
For the superstitious, Mahindra entered the finals last year by winning against Sporting Club de Goa in a tie-breaker and lost the finals to Churchill. This edition has seen Churchill enter the finals by defeating Sporting Club de Goa on penalties to face Mahindra United in the finals and the outcome is...
Overall, the match has the making of an exciting final and going by the way the teams have played in the tournament, one would clearly vote for the Red Devils to come out in flying colours. But final is a different game altogether so keep your fingers crossed and wait for the kick-off.
Rahul Bali.
Mahindra United have made a steady progress in the tournament so far defeating the likes of JCT in the semi-finals and coming off the league stage where they drew with Churchill Brothers and Mumbai FC and beat Army XI.
The Red Devils have been enshrouded in controversy over the last few weeks with regards to the Steven-Pradeep transfer saga but that hasn’t deterred the team’s performance. In fact, they are playing a much improved game from last year where they struggled to beat the oppositions in normal time and goals went missing.
Goalkeeper Subashish Roy Chowdhary might miss the finals due to a lump in his groin. He was substituted at half time in the semi-finals for Amit Nandy. This could be a key factor for Mahindra especially when you have a quality striker in the opposition ranks in the form of Odafa Okolie.
Churchill Brothers haven’t been in the form one saw last year and the free flowing game which one associated with the Goan side remains absent. They struggled to overcome a weak Sporting Club de Goa and could win thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya.
Coach Emeka Ezeugo has left out last year’s key performers Naoba Singh and Jenith back in Goa. His methods are yet to bring the desired results. Midfielders Vashum and Ashley suffered knocks in the last game though the duo is expected to be fit for the big game later tonight at the Ambedkar Stadium.
Odafa’s heroics against Mahindra United are well-known and it’s clear that the Nigerian has a liking for the Mumbai club. He scored the winner in last year’s finals, added another in the away game at Cooperage and a hat-trick at home in one of the most entertaining encounters of the I-League last season.
For the superstitious, Mahindra entered the finals last year by winning against Sporting Club de Goa in a tie-breaker and lost the finals to Churchill. This edition has seen Churchill enter the finals by defeating Sporting Club de Goa on penalties to face Mahindra United in the finals and the outcome is...
Overall, the match has the making of an exciting final and going by the way the teams have played in the tournament, one would clearly vote for the Red Devils to come out in flying colours. But final is a different game altogether so keep your fingers crossed and wait for the kick-off.
Rahul Bali.
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