Mahindra to clash against Maldives in AFC Cup in Goa tomorrow

Margao, March 19 (UNI) Buoyed by their win against Singapore Armed Force in the away match, Mahindra United, Mumbai are looking for another victory at home this time against Maldives's Radiant sports club in the Asia Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match to be played here at Nehru stadium Fatorda tomorrow.

Both the teams arrived in Goa yesterday.

A confident looking Mahindra team coach Derrick Pereira said his team was shaping well. ''I am happy with the team's performance and hope to do better than what we have done. My main aim is to qualify for the AFC Cup quarter final. The boys are in good spirit after their success against Singapore and hope they will put the same performance tomorrow before the home crowd, which is an additional tonic for them.'' Mr Pereira said his team was totally fit barring a few nagging injuries to defender Mahesh Gawali and Ghanian forward Yakubu Yusif, who was instrumental in scoring a goal in their away match against Singapore Armed Forces in the opening match of the AFC cup.

Regarding Maldives, Coach Derrick Pereira said ''Wait and watch tomorrow.'' Maldives team, the home league champions arrived late last evening along with German coach Gerd Zeise. Speaking to mediapersons here today Mr Zeise said ''We have come with only two foreigners forward Idris (Uganda) and goalkeeper Sadun Devinda (Sri Lanka). We are normal in defence, midfield and forwardline.

He said his team had played three foreigners during their home defeat to Hongkong's Happy Valley (0-2) in the AFC lung opener and left out Uganda's Michel, a defender for the Mahindra Match in Goa.

''First and foremost, we need to concentrate on the Mahindra game as we need to first ensure that there is no second defeat coming. We will be happy with a draw,'' he said.

Mr Zeise said, he respected Mahindra for their recent away win in Singapore and said the team is known for its strong force and good side. I have no further knowledge about Mahindra.'' He had gathered some inputs on Jeepmen from their ex-coach David Booth of England.

This is the first time we are playing an Indian club in the AFC event and we need to acclimatise quickly as only one practice is being allowed today at the stadium. ''We will give our best to be competitive against Mahindra though the latter will enjoy the advantage of being in their home turf,'' he added.

Team: Mahindra: Sandeep Nandy, Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawali, N S Manju, N P Pradeep, Rauf Khan, Peter Sidique, Samson Fernandes, K Ajayan, Sushanat Mathew, S Venkatesh, Stevan Dias, Mahd Rafi, James Singh, Mbaka Dady, Bhola Prasad, Abhisek Yadav, Manjit Singh, Yakubu Yusif and Andrew Pomeyie.

Maldives: Sadun Devinda (Gk), Amil Ibrahim, Shareef Adam, Ashfaq Ali, Simaz Hussain, Idris Kasirye, Qasim Shamweel, Ibrahim Ilyas, Abdul Ghani Asaad, Abdul Ghani Anwaro, Abdul Rahim Aslam, Abdul Ghani Akram, Nasir Mohammad, Rishfan Ahmed, Nishan Ahmed, Ibrahim Saba Mohammad.

UNI