New Delhi: After 13 rounds of the I-League 2011/12, the Championship stays wide open. The topsy-turvy manner at the top hints towards no clear favourite.
Only one point separates the top three clubs in the current standings with Dempo SC leading the pack with 27 points. Both Churchill Brothers and Kingfisher East Bengal have 26 points but Churchill stay ahead on a head-to-head ratio. Not to forget, Churchill have played a match less.
Far away from being predictable the first-leg proves that smaller teams are not far behind in terms of competence and quality of play. Big-budgets don’t always win you matches.
Prayag United have been a revelation and Pune FC’s upsurge towards the last stages of the first-leg where they accounted for heavyweight counterparts of the likes of Dempo and Mohun Bagan provides that glimmer of hope that we can have a new club winning the League.
Pune Coach Derrick Pereira credited his boys for his team’s meteoric rise. “We were not off to a dream start but we now stay in contention. I think the understanding among the players and the presence of Jeje Lalpekhlua and Mondjou Keita’s upfront have turned our fortunes,” he told www.the-aiff.com.
Refusing to name any specific player, he added: “Football is a team game and pin pointing any single player would not be right thing to do.”
“We want to take one match at a time and I expect my players to stay focussed in the second phase.”
Prayag United stays the other team to have made an impact with a shoe-string budget. Coach Sanjoy Sen maintained the aim of the team is “To finish in the top 5,” only to add: “We are not away from our aim.”
Their victory against Dempo has thrown open the League. “We were determined to beat Dempo on their home soil and my players responded to the call.”
Big spenders McDowell Mohun Bagan do remain in the fray but the injuries to inspirational Captain Jose Barreto has hit them hard. They stay a bit dependent on maverick striker Odafa Okolie and the defensive woes continue. Don’t rule them out as you can never doubt the quality in their side – the same manner in which you can’t ever rule out defending champions Salgaocar.