Salgaocar close in on early leaders

S. Ayyappa Swamy

In a long-drawn home and away league, it is imperative that teams get a fair distribution of matches. The one who draws up the schedule has to, of course, bear in mind various factors like cost, transport etc. At the same time, it is also important that teams get a minimum number of matches in familiar surroundings on their home ground.

Champions of the first year, Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills, Phagwara, could well be asking AIFF secretary and NFL chairman Alberto Colaco why there is some disparity in the scheduling. While, for example, Salgaocar and FC Kochin have most matches at home, JCT have so far played only one home match and that too one that was forced upon them as the inaugural match of the fifth NFL, like in previous years, was played at the Ambedkar stadium, New Delhi.

JCT host their first real home match only on March 2, a 10th round fixture against East Bengal, at Ludhiana. Perhaps, that is the reason why former national coach Sukhwinder Singh's truly national side is yet to score a win and are down with only two points.

With the fourth round matches completed on Sunday, there has been no dramatic change in fortunes. FC Kochin and Mohun Bagan continue their joint hold at the top, with the defending champions from Calcutta ahead on goal difference. Mohun Bagan have a plus-5 goal difference while Kochin have plus-2.

One point behind them and making a strong bid in these early rounds is another former champion Salgaocar, who, like the two leaders, scored their third consecutive victory. Importantly, their wily veteran Bruno Coutinho has shown good form by getting his third goal of the league.

The discontent in the Zee Churchill Bros. camp reached a flash point after a showdown between their coach T. Gregory and bossman Joaquim Alemao. And it ended with the sacking of the Uzbeki coach. Though assistant coach P M Sivadas, the former international, was advised two-month bed rest following a major operation on his ankle, he rushed to the job and was on the bench as Churchill began their long crawl up with a drawn tie against East Bengal at home. They have easy pickings coming up in the next round against the out-of-form JCT, who are lucky to complete their Goa sojourn at one go.

While coach Gregory got the boot, Mahindra United coach Shabbir Ali got a hold on his job as the jeepmen defeated Indian Telephone Industries 1-0 in a home tie. Mahindra got the matchwinner through Manjit Singh and looked capable of much more. The jinx of conceding goals in the last-minute, which Shabbir and manager Harish Rao expressed repeatedly, seems to have been broken as ITI's try in the last-minute of injury time crashed off the post. Some guys have all the luck, isn't it?

Ordinarily Vasco's victory over JCT would have caused a surprise. The former are debutants while the latter have played in all four leagues so far. But Vasco have the arsenal -- foreign power -- while JCT are going through the rut. However, Vasco's three points is indeed creditable as they are on eight points and in the fourth place.

Best goal: International Bruno Coutinho's strike from 20 yards against Tollygunge, which brought back memories of his golden goal against Mohun Bagan in the KBL Cup final three years ago.

Best match: FC Kochin vs. Air-India. Result: 2-1.

Disappointment: Coach Amal Dutta's Tollygunge, who have only one point yet.

Results of the fourth round:

Mohun Bagan beat SBT 3-0 at Calcutta
FC Kochin beat Air-India at Kochi 2-1
Mahindra United beat ITI 1-0 at Bombay.
Vasco beat JCT 1-0 at Margao
Zee Churchill Bros. drew with East Bengal 1-1 at Margao
Salgaocar beat Tollygunge Aggragami 2-0 at Margao

Related reports:

FC Kochin lead National Football League race
F C Kochin stay ahead

                                       How The Teams Stand

5th National Football League Standings
		Overall
Teams		P	W	D	L	F	A		Pts	GD
M Bagan		4	3	1	0	8	3		10	5
FC Kochin		4	3	1	0	8	5		10	3
Salgaocar		4	3	0	1	9	4		9	5
Vasco		4	2	2	0	4	2		8	2
East Bengal		4	2	1	1	6	3		7	3
Mahindra		4	1	2	1	3	3		5	-0
ITI		4	1	1	2	1	2		4	-1
Air-India		4	1	1	2	4	7		4	-3
JCT		4	0	2	2	3	5		-2	2
SBT		4	0	2	2	1	6		2	-5
Churchill		4	0	2	2	2	4		2	-2
Tollygunge		4	0	1	3	1	6		1	-5