The Hindu : Sport / Football : Viva Kerala coach confident

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Saturday, Dec 15, 2007
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Viva Kerala coach confident

P. K. Ajith Kumar

KOZHIKODE: Survival. That was the only thing on A.M. Sreedharan’s mind when his team, Viva Kerala, began its preparations a few weeks ago at Kochi for its maiden campaign in India’s premier football league, now re-christened I-League. Four away matches later, as Viva braces up for its first home match, against Salgaocar at the Corporation Stadium here on Saturday, the coach is thinking beyond just avoiding relegation.

“I believe my team has the potential to finish inside the top five,” he said. “Yes, the boys are a lot more confident now.”

The team goes into Saturday’s match with not too bad a record — that too, away — in the league. It has won one game, drew two and lost one. And the win had come in quite convincing style, against Mohun Bagan (3-1). The draws were with the formidable Mahindra United and Air-India. The only loss was against East Bengal, in the opening match.

“And that has been the best match we have played so far,” says Sreedharan. “The only problem was that we couldn’t score. We had got a standing ovation as we left the ground. It meant a lot to us, coming as it did on East Bengal’s home turf.”

Violent crowd

Elsewhere in Kolkata, the reaction from the crowd was slightly different. They pelted Sreedharan with stones during the match between Mohun Bagan and Viva.

“It was a bit scary of course as the fans were really upset that we were outplaying Bagan,” said Sreedharan. “But it was, in a way, a recognition for us as a rival.”

“The other teams in the league no longer see as free points,” says a proud coach.

He says he is happy with the way all the players have performed so far. “It has been a good team work, but I would still say Wisdom Abbey (the Ghanes recruit) and goalkeeper M.V. Nelson have been outstanding. Wisdom has been excellent at creating and scoring goals, while Nelson has shown his class and experience. And, of course, Baba Tunde is such a useful man to have up front.”

He thinks the biggest reason for Viva’s good showing so far is the team’s fitness. “We are undoubtedly one of the fittest sides in the I-Leauge,” he said.

But, yes, Sreedharan wants this fit side to do much more than just to survive. So does Kerala.

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