Goa : Dempo Sports Club will seek to raise their game a few notches as they tackle Prayag United at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Tuesday.Dempo are enjoying their stay at the top of the table again but assistant coach Mauricio Afonso believes they have to raise the bar against Prayag United, one of the trickiest team in the competition.“It’s never easy playing a team like Prayag United. They are strong and are capable of springing a surprise. We are, however, confident about ourselves and know we will get the three points we are looking out for,” said Afonso.Dempo will miss the services of defender Sameer Naik (double booking) but with Valeriano Rebello available for selection, there will not be a selection headache.Upfront, Nigerian striker Koko Sakibo will once again be relegated to the bench despite strong showing in the last couple of matches as a second half substitute.“Koko is an excellent choice for the later part of the game. Moreover, Joy Ferrao is hardworking and is doing the job appreciably. Joy will start alongside Ranty,” said the former India captain.Prayag United had a great run at the start of the competition but several draws and an unexpected 1-3 loss against Mumbai FC in the last match have pegged them back. Coach Sanjoy Sen will seek a positive result against the former champions.“It was unfortunate that we lost against Mumbai FC in the last game and we have to make amends now. Hopefully, we will be able to secure a win against Dempo.“Dempo is a strong side. They have excellent players in all departments and a very good coach at the helm of affairs. But football is very unpredictable. The I-League itself has proved how results can go the wrong way. If Air India can defeat Dempo, so can we,” said Sen.Dempo stays at the top of the table with 27 points from 12 matches, while Prayag have 18 points from 12 matches.
Pune FC hope to stop Bagan juggernaut
Pune: Pune FC wouldn’t have asked for a better position to start the New Year with, but a win instead of a draw in the last match of 2011 will always remain a dream something that would have given a new vigour to the team having broken into the 20-point barrier.
But, it was not to be as the bottom scrappers Pailan Arrows held the Derrick Pereira’s team to 1-1 draw in Kolkata making Pune FC surge upwards a tad bit difficult than it would have been.
“The draw was not a worry. Not at all! It was a different situation and my team responded well. We will take positives from that match,” is how Pereira puts up brave face on the eve of their Round XIII match of the I-League Football Championship against McDowell Mohun Bagan at the Balewadi Sports Complex ground here on Tuesday.
For both the teams, Tuesday’s match is equally important, as the 11-day break when three players from each team will be away on national duty to play against FC Bayern Munich in Bhaichung Bhutia farewell match in New Delhi.
The two teams have met four times in the I-League and the last three encounters have ended in draws, two being goalless and one, a 1-1 draw. Pune FC lost to Mohun Bagan last way back in 2009 November at Balewadi, but then the host were then relative newcomers to the top level of League football.
Going by the law of averages, a win for Pune FC is very much in asking, but then even a draw would suffice for the home team that will help them break into the 20-point bracket.
“The match against Mohun Bagan will be a tough one. They have good players in their ranks despite the exclusions,” said Pereira adding that Pune FC was ready for the Kolkata side no matter what has been Bagan’s recent performance.
Mohun Bagan is at 3rd position with 24 points from 12 matches, while Pune are at 5th position with 19 points from 12 matches.