Dempo to clash against Sporting de Goa in NFL tie tomorrow

Duler, Goa Jan 17 (UNI) It will be a Herculean task for local league champions, Sporting club de Goa to stop the fine run of the Durand Cup Champions Dempo in their third round match of the ONGC National Football League championship tie to be played here at Mapusa in north Goa tomorrow.

The two teams seem to be equally balanced though Sporting might find it diffuclt to contain Dempo's attacking duo Anthony Pereira and Nigerian Renty Martin, both of whom were instrumental in carving out a big win against the Mohammedans.

Dempo's coach, Arman Colaco said his boys are fully fit and his team is in an up-beat mood after displaying a brilliant performance against Kolkata's Mohammedan team in the last match. The same team will play tomorrow, he said.

Dempo appears well balanced in all the departmets. Their midfielders are very competent with the Brazilian Roberto Mendes da Silva spearheading the half line. The other two, Clifford Miranda, Climax Lawrence or Jerry Zinsanga have also played an important role as medios. Their defence is marshalled by Valerian Rebello, Bolaji Majek, Samir Nair and John Dias. Dempo will therefore be in full strength.

Sporting's Peter Vaz said that though they lost to Churchill Brothers in the lung opener, the team put up a good performance against Air India Mumbai.

He said players were tired after a series of matches in the IFA and Federation cup. The league is still young and his team will bounce back, he added.

He said his main concern is the form of Dudu Omaghbhemi. Other forwards Nicolas Borgues and Ernest Jeremiah are not quick in grasping the advantages before them. Helping the Nigerian in the forward line will be Nicholas Rodrigues and Joseph Pereira. Thus the striking power of Sporting looks formidable on paper.

However, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to translate this advantage into goals.

If Sporting desires to salvage some prestige, they would have to erect rock solid defence to thwart the dangerous moves from the rival forward line. This is now in the hands of Mathew Gonsalves, Filip Gomes, Rajesh Meerei and Bello Rasaq.

UNI