Churchill eye full points against Mohun Bagan tomorrow

Margao, Apr 28 (UNI) Banking on their good performance at home, Churchill Brothers are looking for full points against Mohun Bagan to improve their placing in the ONGC National Football League (NFL) in a 16th round encounter at Nehru stdium Fatorda here tomorrow.

Churchill, currently placed fifth in the league table with 22 points, are tied with JCT. They are three points ahead of Mohun Bagan who are on 19 points.

Out of the 15 matches Churchill had played, they have won five, drawn seven and lost three. They have scored 20 goals in their name and 19 against.

Bagan are one place adrift with five wins, four draws and five defeats to their credit. They have 12 goals in their name and 16 against.

Both the teams are equally matched in the midfield and attack and the side which utilises the defence, the weak point of both the teams, more imaginatively is likely to come out victorious.

Churchill have a dependable striker in Odafe Okolie who had shown maturity and dash in every outing in the attack.

He has 11 goals in his name and all eyes will be on him tomorrow.

George Ekeh and Vanlal Rova, who also had given rivals a horrowing time in the earlier outings, are expected to work in tandem with Odafe and seize the chances that come their way.

Bagan, too, boast of very good forwrdline and midfield with the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, Jose Barreto, Mehatab Hussain, Douglas Silva and Lalkamal Bhowmick in their ranks. But, a lot will depend on how they convert their chances into goals tomorrow.

Expressing his happiness over team's performance so far in the league, Churchill coach Karim Bencherifa said, ''My Boys are doing well. Our aim is to win the match and gain full points as the team is in the race to finish in the first three places.'' He said forward D Raju will have to sit out tomorrow as he has received two yellow cards.

Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Pal, who received a red card against Mohammedan Sporting in the last home match, will miss tomorrow's match.

UNI