|
National League 2005 - by Prithwijit Majumdar
|
Its merely a few days before the prestigious National League goes underway in Kolkata with the derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.While in Kolkata ,the buzz is about this clash between the arch rivals, from a technical point of view this match is only one among all the matches to be played in the NFL, spanning well over 3 months. Hence a detailed analysis of all the participating teams needs to be undertaken so that one can form a clear idea about the various participating teams.Though we call it our National League, it can be better termed as a Bengal -Goa League, as 8 of the 12 participating teams are from these two states. While it is a pointer to the limited expanse of soccer in the country, it also shows beyond doubt that the Chamionship is most probably going to be limited between these two states only.There are however strong challengers to this hypothesis in the form of Mahindra and Mahindra or JCT which can pull up surprises but according to me these teams with limited support base stand lesser chance of clinching the title.Let us now carry out a team by team analysis which would help us to find out wherein all the teams are placed just at the beginning of the NFL.
The three times Champions and undoubtedly the most glamorous Club of the nation ,has had bear with the blushes of saving the relegation last year which was pretty forgettable for it by all the standards.This year however, the team looks different with quality signings like Tomba Singh ,Dharamjit Singh and Noel Wilson.It boasts of unarguably the best midfield of the nation where new recruits coupled with old warriors like Basudev have struck a formidable composition.
The team also has talented and nippy forwards like Ashim Biswas and Sunil Chettry and latest sensation Jerry Zirsangha.These players together with the Brazilian Beto or nay other foreign recruit should be up for quite a no. of goals given the support they are poised to get from the midfield.
Defence is however one area of concern for Bagan.With Brazilian Du still not back to his form ,lack of inexperience and option is evident in the center of defence with other options in the form of Mehraj-din-Wadoo or Rupesh Kumar still not being able to show enough confidence in Green and Maroon colors.This again calls for makeshift options in Dulal or Noel if the new Nigerian recruit(supposedly an ex-international) does not suit the bill.
Overall the team looks in good shape under coach Subrata Bhattacharyya and a couple of good foreign recruits together with the services of a fit Renedy and Ancheri might just turn out to be Bagan's ace up the sleeves this time.Realistically speaking it should finish in the top three.
The Champions for the last two seasons are not that well placed this year.There are a couple of facts which makes me state this.
i) Injury to vital defenders like Suresh or Dipak and it is doubtful as to how well they can recover.
ii) Absence of quality foreigners like Okoro or Junior.These are basically the two players who almost singlehandedly did the trick for the red&gold last season.
Paolo and Jeremiah ar so far no match for the loss of these two players.What should cost East Bengal highly is the sudden slump in Dougls's form.He suddenly seems to have lost his command of the game and has performed in bits and pieces this year which has hampered the teams prospects in the various tournaments this year.Though they are the Calcutta League and Durand champions(I prefer not to take San Miguel Cup into consideration), the team has performed inconsistently.They could not reach the finals of either the IFA Shield or Federation Cup and even their CFL triumph is also not free from controversy.This does not speak too well of the current form of the most successful Indian team from the past two seasons.
The team lack s genuine ball player .Though there are good players like Chandan and Mama, yet its difficult for the team to win the midfield battle .Alvito -d-Cunha is however making a comeback and his form can be crucial to EB's hopes this team.
However, with almost the same team being retained for the past three seasons ,the team has the requires spirit and experience to make it to the top.
The team should be one of the title contenders and should be in the top three.
The third team from Kolkata is yet to imprint itself as a strong ,potent force in Indian football.A few chucked out foreigners and unknown juniors can turn out to be spoilers for the big teams but they themselves lack the necessary bite and consistency to make it to the top. Even though this year they had reached the semis of the Fed Cup yet according to me they do not hold enough promise for the NFL.What is more amazing is the fact that even coming for a football frenzied city like Kokata they have failed to create a support base for themselves which should help them in their home matches.This coupled with lack of funds and also ambition mark them as backbenchers.
Though they have a burly striker in Akeem or a good player in Suley Musah, yet the overall team does lack the necessary balance and a proper bench strength that is requird to do well in a tournament of this dimension.
Though the team has a few talented lads like striker Surajit Basu or Gouranga Dutta,the midfield lacks creativity and thrust.
On the whole the team's primary concern should be survival as this year four teams are going to be relegated.The inexperience of their coach at this level should also be a deterring factor as this marathon league would demand a lot of tactical switches from time to time.
This team is the sole representative from India's financial capital.It is also the most star studded Indian team this season. It has the right blend of experience and youth and boasts of player of the services of players like Venkatesh, Khalid Jamil or Dipendu Biswas. Though it was at the beginning of the season coached by David Booth but right now the management has restored faith in our sole soccer Dronacharya Sayeed Naimuddin.
It has been learnt that the team has also snatxhed away Mike Okoro and this should serve them pretty well. While to many they are the potential champions I beg to differ.They forget that in a home and away system it is the home support that becomes very crucial.That is precisely why out of the 8 NFLs played so far six have been won by the big two from Kolkata. This factor definitely goeas against Mahindra.Even in their home matches against MB or EB at Cooperage there would be more MB or EB supporters on the ground. This is the bane of being an office team.However Mahindra should do well enough given the quality of players they have recruited and might give the Calcutta teams a run for their money. According to me this team should be in top five.
This Goan outfit has the experience of being at the top. It has won the Fed Cup twice and the NFL once and has the support base and tradition behind it to take on the Kolkata teams.
Though the team was worst hit in this season's transfers yet judging from its Durand semifinal performance it should be admitted that they have regrouped well. Under coach Savio Madeira this set of young players have gelled pretty well. Rocus Lamare,together with a few other new comers and experienced Rober Fernandez are doing pretty well.However, one must admit that their foreigners are not upto the mark.Apart from Marcos Prerreira none can really make a difference.This team can do well if its juniors handle the presurre of away matches well.Should be in top five.
The most star studded among the Goan teams. What could have been their shot in the arms in the form of Fed Cup success had turned out to be their haunting memory due to the accidental death of Christiano Junior, their prized import .They have also a well balanced side with the right blend of experience and youth and their foreigners like Ronty Martins or Bolaji ar also pretty much upto the mark.These playrs together with new talents like Lazarus Fernandes or experiencd ones like Samir Naik and Stanley Coalco should do this team's chances a world of good.Only thing is that the team has to come out of Junior's memories and find a suitable replacement.It is well poised to be in top three.
Nothing much has been heard about this team this year.However under the able coaching of Derek Perreira and a few mediocre foreigners this team has pulled up surprises time and again.It is a god upsetting side but does not have thesteam to run the full race.Its veterans like Ramos or Rui Wanderley should help it to be in the premier league.
Last year when it made its maiden appearance in the NFL it had made its mark for its fast paced attacking soccer.Speed,strength ,youth are its prime strengths.It is a very fit side with good foreigners like Dudu and Adebayo.The domestically grown players like Bibiano Fernandez and Joseph Pereira have also made their mark.The attacking and fearless mindset of the coach is its biggest asset.Should give the top teams a tough time.
This is evident from its victory over East Bengal in Fed Cup and the fight it out up against Mohun Bagan in the semi finals.
This is the only family owned soccer club in India. Runners up for a couple of times it has failed to take that last important step which makes it big .This year it has roped in a few good players like James Singh ,Lolendra Singh,Subhashish Roychowdhury.These players plus trusted foreigners like Osemanu Husseini along with the wily Ghanaian Yusuf Yakubu form the backbone of this team. Their first eleven is good but the bench strength is doubtful.If coach Sabbir Ali can solve this problem they can finish in the top brass of the NFL.
Totally an unknown element with a few big team chucked outs like Anit Ghosh and Sanjiv Maria.This team will be making its first appearance. Has a few Brazilians in its ranks.But overall does not look convincing.Should do well to remain in the league.
The one time champions are now much of a spent force. With their declining budget their fortunes have also shown a downturn. They now predominantly depend on Punjabi boys only along with a few second string foreigners. Coach Sukhwinder Singh, an old warhorse who knows Indian football inside out is probably their biggest star. However, they do have a good ball player in Hardep Gill.They can score upsets but should ideally target the fifth or sixth spot.
|
State Bank of Travancore:
|
|
|
Only representative from Kerala , a football crazy state which is currently experiencing a barren period as far as club football is considered. This is the only team in our NFL without a foreigner, an achievement to be proudly spoken of. It has nine Santosh Trophy players and a very nippy striker in Asif Sahir. It is its 2nd appearance in NFL. Earlier it was relegated on its first appearance.They should primarily target to avoid such a humiliation yet again.
|
|
