High flying Sporting looks for victory against Mohan Bagan

Margao, Oct 10 (UNI) Flying high on their home performance, Sporting Club de Goa would be looking to maintain their unbeaten run when they clash against Kolkata giants Mohan Bagan in their ONGC I-League football championship match, to be played here at the Nehru stadium tomorrow.

The confident looking home team coach Vishwas Gaokar said his team is well knit in all the departments and is fully fit without any injuries. The boys are in good spirits after winning both their matches so far and will certainly be going all out to maintain the winning spree, he said.

He added that the recruitment of Nigerian Nataline in the forward line had strengthened the team's strike force.

''He is likely to play tomorrow and I hope both Nigerians Junior Elejah and Nataline combine well and deliver the goods,'' Gaokar said.

The coach said Mohan Bagan is a very good side and boasts of some big names in the midfield and attack.

The Sporting defence will heave a sigh of relief as they will not have to tackle danger man Bhaichug Bhutia, who is sidelined with a hamstring tear.

The mood in the Sporting camp, with six points, was quite upbeat having won their matches against Vasco and Mohammedan Sporting in the first two rounds.

Mohan Bagan, with one point, had a bad start and have not lived upto their awesome reputation. They would have to tone up their game after having surrendered 1-2 to Mumbai Football Club and a 1-1 draw against Air India in the last match.

Bagan Coach Karim Bencherifa said, ''Our main aim is to snatch points and the win will release some of pressure, not necessarily off me but the players.'' Return of Deepak Mondal is good news for Bagan, who will have to play without Bhiachung Bhutia, half fit Habibur Rehman Mondal and Sangram Mukherjee.

The coach has pinned his hopes on Brazilian Jose Ramirez Barreto and Lal Kamal Bhowmick to deliver the goods. Their midfield will have to do lot of running, for which Ishfaq Ahmad and James Singh need to show more enterprise.

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