The Hindu : Sport / Football : JCT starts favourite

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Friday, Jan 05, 2007
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JCT starts favourite

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: JCT, Phagwara, will start as the favourite against Mohammedan Sporting in the inaugural match of the 11th National Football League for the ONGC Cup at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Friday.

JCT, the runner-up in this year's Durand Cup, will return to the same venue in its attempt to open its campaign on a winning note against an inconsistent Mohammedan Sporting. In spite of making an early exit from the Federation Cup, JCT can draw strength from the fact that its players have it in them to combine effectively as they did in helping Punjab win the Santosh Trophy at Gurgaon this season.

Even in the Durand Cup, JCT went on to hand out a rare 4-0 drubbing to East Bengal and gave coach Sukhwinder Singh a great reason to rejoice. Strikers Renedy Singh, Praveen Kumar and Nigerian import Chidi Edeh promise scoring opportunities for the 1996-97 champions.

On the other hand, Mohammedan Sporting has never done well in the premier meet. It's best show was an eighth-place finish last year. Even in other domestic competitions this season, the Kolkata club struggled to make its presence felt. Still, the trio of Noel Wilson, Eric Bolwe Mputu and Mike Okoro will be watched with interest.

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