Viva has the cushion of playing at home against fellow relegation battlers Salgaocar.  The two teams play each other in the first match of the second phase of the I-League at Kozhikode. The home team’s fans will add an extra dimension to the match.  They will be hoping that Viva grabs all three points and take revenge for their loss in Goa. There is not much that differentiates the two teams.  Viva will be hungry for revenge and Salgaocar will be desperate to pull themselves out of rough waters.

 

 

 

Form Guide
Last five completed matches during the current season (2009-10) excluding friendlies/practice matches and most recent results first
Viva Kerala – LLWWD
Viva has been in better form from the start of this year but their occasional fall from drop in form and lack of consistency has cost them matches.  At the recently concluded EK Nayanar Memorial, they were in great form topping their group before their unattractive loss to Lajong in the semifinals.  Viva will need to pick their game to pull off a respectable result.
Salgaocar – WLWLL
Salgaocar signed off their first phase with a win against Viva.  Three points from Kerala will pull Salgaocar away from the relegation zone and into a more comfortable mid-table position.  A draw is a more realistic target for the Goan side.

Team News

 

Viva Kerala
The team has been having a torrid time against tight match schedules.  But Coach Sreedharan will be glad to welcome back all his first team players.
Defender Charles Dzisah is back from his suspension and maybe a bit rusty without match practice for a long time now.  It could also be a blessing in disguise for the defender as he has had enough time to recover from minor niggles.
Former junior India striker Sabeeth is back in the team after a long-term injury.  While he may feature in the match at some point of time, he may start from the bench.  Makeshift striker KP Anish, who has been in great form recently, is still injured and will miss the match.  Youngster Shibinlal is yet to completely recover from the injury he picked up last month which means that K.P. Nishad is likely to feature in the forward line.
The midfielders Patrick, Karma, Siraj and Sakeer along with defender Bello will have to be at their best to get a decent result tomorrow.
Probable XI (4-4-2): Shahinlal Meloly – K Noushad, Bello Rasaq, Charles Dzisah, VV Surjit – T Karma, Raman Patrick Sisupalan, MP Sakeer, C Sirajuddeen – Rueben Senyo, KP Nishad.

 

Salgaocar
Karim Bencharifa has taken the reins of the Goan side and will work towards picking the relegation threatened team to a safer horizon.
The team has no major injury concerns with most of the key players from the first team available for selection.  Defenders Baldeep and Gurjeet are injured and so is former India striker Manjit Singh.
Upfront Karim has a selection headache – one that he will be happy about.  He has Mandjou Keita, Eneka Ikenwa, Beevan D’Mello and wonderkid Malswamfela at his discretion.  Beevan is likely to edge out Eneka for a starting role along with the in-form Keita.
Wingers Francis Fernandes and Cajetan Fernandes are dangerous and the Viva defence will need to look at ways to keep them quiet to be able to pull a respectable result.  PIO Avneet is injured and hence Rocus Lamare will hold forte in central midfield.  Youngster Chitrasen is likely to miss out and seem to have made a mistake moving to Goa.
Probable XI (4-4-2): Kalyan Chaubey – Milagres Gonsalves, Luciano Sobrosa, Agnelo Colaco, Saivash Saminia – Francis Fernandes, Sochungmi Raleng, Rocus Lamare, Cajetan Fernandes – Mandjou Keita, Beevan D’Mello.

Players to Watch
MP Sakeer (Viva Kerala) – The Viva captain’s creative spark is the vital cog in the midfield.  With the Indian U23 team lacking any central midfielders of any substance, the 23-year old will be looking to catch some attention from the Indian selectors.
Mandjou Keita (Salgaocar) – Keita has been Viva’s predator for Salgaocar this season.  He has scored twice against Viva so far, with goals coming at the Federation Cup and the last round of the I-League.  But he has been struggling to find a partner who can suit up to the task of handling stronger opponents.

 

 

Key Matchups
Bello Rasaq vs. Mandjou Keita
C Sirajuddeen vs. Beevan D’Mello
Rueben Senyo vs. Luciano Sobrosa

Jason Morais writes for footballkerala.com

Comments

Add New

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."