Kolkata: Pailan Arrows will take on Prayag United SC on Wednesday, at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata.
Prayag United head coach Sanjoy Sen said before the match "This is the first match in the I-League that we have a full strength team to choose from."
When asked on Pailan Arrows inexperience Mr Sen said "They are a fit team and will work hard, but we are going all out to win this match."
Pailan Arrows on the other hand have yet to win a match. Sujit Chakraborty the team coach said "We have worked on all departments to win our matches but we are not getting the desired result. Prayag United is a really strong team and one of the best in the league but if we can get a goal everything might change."
Pailan Arrows do not have any major injury worries or suspensions due to bookings so they too should have a full team to choose from.
Sujit Chakraborty added "We are not getting the elusive victory but one win might change our fortunes and we can only move forward from there."
Both teams have their best available players to choose from so a good battle is on cards. It is to be seen if Pailan Arrows can provide some resistance or Prayag United will keep climbing the points table and consolidate their position in the league.
In the current standings Prayag is at fourth position with 16 points from eight matches, while Pailan is languishing at the bottom of the table on 13th position with 4 points from eight matches.
Sporting Clube de Goa vs Air India: Sporting Clube de Goa coach Ekendra Singh has asked his team to put the disappointment of two consecutive losses behind them and get back to winning ways when they meet Air India at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday.
Sporting Clube had an encouraging run at the start when they remained unbeaten in six games. But two consecutive losses, first against Mumbai FC in Pune and later against East Bengal, at home, has put the pressure back on Ekendra’s side.
“The last two matches were disappointing. There could be ups and downs in the league. I understand that, but two losses in a row are simply not acceptable,” said Ekendra.
Sporting Clube have been hit hard by injuries with at least three of their regulars -- Joseph Pereira, Bisheshwor Singh and Boboi Singh -- all out due to injuries, but the return of midfielder Freiman Peixoto should help make up for the deficit. The Coach understands the team’s difficulties at the moment but believes they have enough ammunition to bomb Air India.
“Three points are a must. I will not accept any other result,” said the chief coach.
Air India coach Santosh Kashyap said he was reasonably satisfied with the 10 points from eight matches, and is now eager to start winning after the dual setbacks against Pune FC and Prayag United in the last two matches.
“I am reasonably satisfied. We had a bad start but then got back to winning ways. The last two defeats have pegged us back but I believe this team has enough quality to do better than what we have been doing at the moment,” said Kashyap.
Air India will miss the likes of Nepolean Singh and Sandeep Sangha due to injuries.
Sporting Clube remains at Sixth position with 12 points from eight matches, while Air India is a Ninth position with 10 points from eight matches.
Chirag United Kerala FC vs Chruchill Brothers SC: Positioned just behind the league leaders Dempo SC and hoping to cash in on a weaker opponent, Churchill Brothers SC travel to Kerala to face Chirag United Kerala in the ninth round of I-League 2011-12 at the University Stadium, Trivandrum this Wednesday.
Coming into the game from back-to-back draws and gaining confidence from holding the defending champions Salgaocar SC in the last round, Chirag Kerala will provide a tough challenge for the Goan side at home.
Churchill are also in fine form pocketing seven points from their last three games and looked like real title challengers against Dempo SC in the last round, a game they won with the help of goals from Antun Kovacic and Henry Antchouet.
But Manuel Gomez's weakened side have enough fire power to trouble any team in the league. It would be the duo of Bineesh Balan and Mohammed Rafi who would lead the attack for Churchill against Chirag at Trivandrum, with Beto and Henry Antchouet anchoring the midfield. The defensive line up headed by Australian defender Antun Kovacic will be hard to penetrate.
Meanwhile Nizam Pakir Ali's team will feature PK Anil Kumar, who scored his first goal for the club in the last match after rejoining them, and Nigerian David Sunday who looked impressive in his debut in the attack. Australian Michael Matricciani is expected to be back after missing out on last two matches with illness and it would be interesting to see how Nizam Ali would accommodate the foreigners in the squad.
In the league table Churchill are at second position with 17 points from eight matches, while Chirag are at twelfth position with five points from 8 matches.
