Sporting Clube De Goa aiming to be among top contenders

Bangalore, Feb 17 (UNI) Highly rated Sporting Clube De Goa, which has failed to live up to its billing in the four rounds played so far, will be looking for full points against promoted Hindustan Aeronautics Sports Club (HASC) in the fifth round clash of the National Football League to be played at BDFA stadium here tomorrow.

The Goan team had made an indifferent start, losing to promotees Churchill Brothers and crashing to a defeat against statemates Dempo Sports Club in the third round. Earlier, they were held to a draw by Air India in the second round, while tasting their first win against Mahindra in the fourth round. This had resulted in the talented team languishing in the seventh spot with just four points.

''We will be looking for three points tomorrow. It has been a sort of up and down journey for us so far. We are not out of the reckoning yet. We can be among the top contenders with a win tomorrow,'' Sporting Coach Clifford Chukuma told reporters here after a stint of practice at the stadium.

However, the Nigerian Coach faced problems, with injuries dogging his key players like striker MacPherlin Dudu, who is one among the second highest scorers this season with three goals, and midfielders Nicolav Borges, Joe Rodrigues and Joseph Pereira. Dudu did practice today, but the coach was doubtful about his availability tomorrow.

Chukama said Lloyd Mascarenhas and Nigerian Arnes Jeremaiah would be the likely replacement in the midfield tomorrow. ''We will not take HASC lightly as I have seen them in the Federation Cup...they are a good team.'' Despite holding Federation Cup Champions Mohun Bagan and Mohd.

Sporting to goalless draws, HASC remained at the bottom of the table with just two points. Apart from the two draws, they have badly lost to Air India and East Bengal. Absence of foreign players had compounded HASC's woes and it would still take some time for the team to hire some and Coach Krishnaji Rao had held talks with a few.

''We will rise to the occasion tomorrow. Striker Vashin, the India Under-19 camper, after the knee injury he suffered in the third round, is back practicing, but still not fully fit. But good news is Balaji is playing tomorrow,'' Rao said.

UNI