MARGAO: For those who believed the early exit of the two Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, as also defending champion Dempo, Goa, had devalued the Alchemist-27th Federation Cup football tournament then the final on Sunday will be just the tonic to push up their spirits.

The line up — Mahindra United (Mumbai) v Sporting Clube de Goa — not only promises a variety straightaway but represents two different ideals. The Mumbai team, after its recent acquisitions, is out to prove before the next national league, that it is ready to regain the `champion club' mantle that it had won once in 2003.

Fight for prestige

That then is the settings: two teams, strong in their own way and fighting not just for the Rs. 12 lakhs first prize or the licence to represent the country in the AFC cup, but also for prestige and their self-defined goals.

In terms of strength, both have their foreign mix, Sporting boasting of a lethal double-headed attack comprising the Nigerians Chidi and Dudu while Mahindra's trump card has to be that Brazilian Jose Barreto, who expresses himself with felicity on the turf.

Gabriel Umeh is there to run tandem with Barreto but it is his link with Steven Dias that has been the feature of Mahindra's gains till date. With `player of the year' S. Venkatesh in the middle, Ajayan and Surajit Bose, to name just two others the Mahindra back up is impressive.

Progressive improvement

Then again unlike Sporting, Mahindra has shown progressive improvement from a modest 1-0 win over JCT, a 4-2 effort over HAL to a comprehensive 4-1 win over Churchill Brothers in the semifinals, an indication that the side was peaking well. Sporting's progress has been 2-1 win over SBT, a 4-1 effort over Fransa Pax Goa and 6-5 struggle via tie-breaker over Salgaocar. But with Nicolau Borges, Bibiano Fernandes, Joseph Pereira to buttress the attack and Felip Gomes in defence, Sporting can be a handful.

Interestingly, it was Mahindra's win over Sporting that denied the Goan side the NFL title last season. On that count the clash has extra competitive interest.

Sporting coach Clifford Chukwama, a tidy player himself earlier, does not believe in `revenge' but felt the match provided a chance for his team to "wipe off those memories". Mahindra Manager Henry Menezes said: "I am delighted with my side's progress and we want to finish on a high note". For Mahindra coach Derrick Pereira, who tasted title-wins three times as a Salgaocar player, it will be a chance to make it the fourth and first time as coach.

No sweat

Churchill Brothers had no sweat picking up Rs. 2 lakhs, the prize money for finishing third, by comfortably beating Salgaocar (Goa) 5-0 on Saturday in the match for third place. Tony, Jotim Singh, Carlos Fernandes, Osamanu Hussaini and P.T. Somy were the scorers. Churchill led 3-0 at half-time.

Sunday: Final: Mahindra United v Sporting clube de Goa, 7 p.m.

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