JCT to clash against Sporting de Goa in the NFL tomorrow

Duler (Goa), Feb 22 (UNI) An injury plagued Sporting club de Goa will hope to use the ''home'' advantage to snatch full points when they lock horns against former champions JCT Mills Phagawara in the 11th edition of the ONGC National Football league championship match to be played at Duler ground in North Goa tomorrow.

Though both the teams appear to be well balanced on paper but both have been inconsistant in their performance in the league so far.

Sporting, who had a poor start from the kick off, are lowly placed with four points from a win, draw and three losses. JCT, on the other hand, are one point ahead of Sporting with five points and placed sixth on the table with a win, two draws and two defeats also need points to boost their tally.

As both the teams will battle for full points, it is going to be an interesting match.

Sporting's Peter Vaz said,''for us every match is crucial and we will go all out for win, my main worry is the fitness of key players as both Nigerian forward Dudu Omghabhemi, defender Bello Rasaq and recently newly signed Player of Indian origin (PIO) Nicolas Nath are injured.'' Joe Rodrigues and Earnest Jeremia will also be out tomorrow as both are nursing injuries.

Sporting will depend heavily on Nicolau Borgues and Nicolau Rodrigues in the front to deliver the goods. Helping the forward line will be Joseph Pereira, Harbhajot Khabra and Jagdish Pappiah.

If sporting desire to salvage some prestige, they would have to go for a win or a draw and for that, they would have to erect a rock solid defence to keep a check on rival forwards.

JCT's assistant coach Parminder Singh was optimistic about his team chances of winning tomorrow. He said,'' boys know that we have to improve our points position and definitely we will put up a good show. In the last five matches, our boys played well but failed to convert chances into the goals. Except stopper back Harpreet Singh who is injured, our team is fully fit.'' The vistiors too have a good attacking and midfield if both combined well millmen will have no problem to bang the taget.

JCT fortunes in the tournament have mainly revolved around striker Sunil Chetri, Edeh Chidi, Praveen Kumar and playemaker star midfielder Rendy Singh and Adebayo Adewasi.

UNI