The Hindu : Sport / Football : E.K. Nayanar memorial Gold Cup from today

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Sunday, Apr 08, 2007
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E.K. Nayanar memorial Gold Cup from today

M.R. Praveen Chandran

KANNUR: The glittering 150 sovereign gold cup is a fitting tribute to the memory of Kerala's most popular Chief Minister the late E.K. Nayanar. But the first international tournament in memory of the late leader, which begins at the Municipal stadium on Sunday, has been hit by unimaginative scheduling which leaves the tournament being held in the middle of the National Football League.

The absence of country's premier clubs has taken the sheen away from the tournament. However, the presence of four foreign teams — FC Nania (Ghana), Pakistan XI, Iran XI and Diamond FC (Nigeria) — has given the much-needed fillip to the tournament.

But not much is known about the composition of the Pakistan XI and Iran XI though it is rumoured that both countries have sent their junior squads for this tournament. FC Nania, in middle of a match-fixing controversy, has won promotion to the premier league while Diamond FC is a first division side in Nigeria.

The tournament provides a chance for SBT, Thiruvananthapuram to redeem itself after failing to qualify for the NFL.

SBT is drawn along with Nania FC, Pakistan XI, SBT and Vasco Goa in Group `A'. SBT manager Rajeev said his team has little clue about the Ghanaians against whom they play the inaugural match. "We heard they are good side. We haven't seen them practice so it difficult to formulate a plan against them,'' he said.

Viva on a high

Viva Kerala, on a high after qualifying for the first division National Football league, will be the crowd favourite. But the team, which has been playing non-stop football for the last one month, has a tough task in finding its motivation after achieving an emotional peak by qualifying for the NFL. Viva is clubbed along with Iran XI, Diamond FC and Army XI in Group `B'. The Municipal Stadium, which is hosting an international tournament after a decade, has been spruced up for the occasion. The matches will be played under lights.

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