The Hindu : Sport / Football : FC Kochin meets HAL

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004

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Sport - Football

FC Kochin meets HAL

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, APRIL 27. Two teams — India's first professional side FC Kochin and Bangalore's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) — both of which slid from the top rungs will now vie to clinch the two spots up for grabs in the Phase One of the Second Division National Football League.

But then to earn promotion back to the Elite league, the two will first have to qualify from group One, which commences at the Bangalore Football stadium from the morrow.

Five teams are in fray — the others being J&K Bank, Assam State Elecricity Board (ASEB) and Hindustan FC (New Delhi).

HAL and FC Kochin easily stand out from this group, but then the opener sure is expected to be cracker of a contest with neither willing to give in.

"I have no magic wand" said HAL's coach Krishnaji Rao but then ex-HAL man Chandrashekar does know the strengths and weakness of his former team and this could make it an interesting duel.

FC Kochin has been based in Bangalore for the last three months and training at the SAI centre here. But surprisingly the composition of the team is a closely guarded secret. "There are three foreigners in the side," was all Chandru was ready to disclose.

HAL have more or less the same local side that did duty for the team over the last two years but for the inclusion of Brazilian Du as stopper. Much would however depend on how well the striking duo of Dayanad and Sunil alongwith the versatility of Xavier and Murali in the middle will capitalise on the chances.

ASEB and qualifiers J& K Bank were expected to kick-off the phase one leg today, but due to the late arrival of the former the match was put-off by a day. However nothing much is known about these two teams as about Hinductan FC the New Delhi side.

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