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NFL kicks off today

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI NOV. 14. Six editions have gone by in the National Football League, currently the richest football fixture in the country, and as the Rs. 6 crore seventh edition with ONGC as title sponsor gets underway with a match between the two Goan heavyweights — Salgaocar and Churchill Brothers — at Margao on Friday, the curtains rise on another season of hope.

That the competition has had a overall beneficial effect on the standards of the game in the country is established and pointers to this have been India's recent performances. The refreshingly new approach for a title-win in LG Cup win in Vietnam, the impressive friendlies against Jamaica during the short tour to England and the encouraging performance at the Busan Asian Games are some of good shows.

The good work has to continue and this unusually is also the eagerness of the Asian Football Confederation, which sees in India a sleeping giant capable of making a big splash.

It is a different matter that NFL is a story mostly of heroics by foreign recruits. Remember Jose Barretto, the Brazilian who so wonderfully served Mohun Bagan last time, that the Kolkata club already has a reputation of three title wins.

While it is now accepted that no club can nurse a dream of making a mark, nay, even survive in this 12-team home-and-away competition, without inducting foreign blood, over the last few years there is also a definite inclination for investing in best available foreign talent. All the more this year because the rules have been amended to allow only four foreign players per team and three in the actual eleven.

As always, African talents, particularly Nigeria and Ghana, form the main catch though clubs have begun to reach Latin America and some of Eastern European blocs for better buys. Such is the stake with the winner scheduled to receive Rs. 40 lakh and the runner-up Rs. 22 lakh besides graded payment right up to the sixth spot.

Also new this time is the decision of the AIFF, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India, to introduce dope tests at random. Giving this information, the AIFF Secretary, Mr. Alberto Colaco said that this would be tried wherever SAI had access to testing facilities.

That then forms the setting this year. What the previous editions have conveyed is the domination of the Kolkata clubs and the consolidation of the Goan sides. With four teams this time from Goa — Salgaocar, Churchill Brothers, Vasco and the promoted side Dempo — Margao will witness a major chunk of the league matches, the next being Kolkata which has three representatives in holder Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Manaksia Tollygunge Agragami.

Indian Bank's entry has ensured eleven matches in Chennai while Bangalore with its two clubs (ITI and HAL) will have a fair share. JCT Phagwara and Mahindra United from Mumbai are the other two contestants. For once there is no team from Kerala, which ironically is a force to reckon with in the National championship.

Each team has prepared itself in its own way. Mohun Bagan, which won its third title last time, perhaps has the best forwards in India star Bhaichung Bhutia and the popular Brazilian Jose Barreto. Their combined fee, it is understood, is more than half the club's budget! However Subrata Bhattacharya's team, which lost 0-6 to Taejon Citizen (South Korea) in the newly introduced AFC Chamipons League, is still to click into a winning unit. It finished third in the Calcutta Super Division league.

In comparison, East Bengal, coached by Subash Bhowmick, looks inspiring. Two recent wins — Independence Day Cup (Assam) and the Calcutta League title — could not have come at a better time. The watch will be on Nigerian Mike Okoro and Mizoram's S. Malswamtulunga, an India under-20 player. They will spearhead the attack alongwith Kulothungan. With the likes of Venkatesh, Sasthi Duley, Alvito D'Cunha in the midfield and Dipak Mondal and another Brazilian Douglas Da Silva, the former champion has a rich assortment.

Manaksia Tollygunge under Aloke Mukherjee, however has no big names and will depend much on its foreigners _ Nigerians Akeem Abulalem, Awwoyemi Isiaka, Moses Owira and Christian Okolonkwo.

The transfers has enriched the Goan clubs much, particularly Vasco, which finished third last time. Salgaocar is the Goa professional club winner and has some good Manipuri talents while last year's runner-up Churchill Brothers, which is also participating in the AFC Champions League, looks compact.

Mahindra United in Mumbai presents an ambitious look with a former Czech World Cupper, Karel Stromsik as the chief Coach. With a sprinkling of European and African players, apart from a bunch of India players, the team means business.

On the brink last time, the inaugural year champion, JCT Phagwara has decided `desi' players alone will not do. A few Ghanaian players will feature in the team's campaign this time.

Leaving nothing to chance are ITI and HAL, the two Bangalore outfits. ITI has roped in Shabbir Ali as the coach. Both teams are still finalising their foreign recruits.

Indian Bank, returning to the premier league after four seasons, would depend on the striking abilities of International Sabir Pasha, the ingenuity of Hamilton Bobby in mid-field and the effectiveness of the two Sri Lankan imports Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya and Imran Mohd.

The two Lankans had played a major role in the Bank's progress from Second Division. It is a big challenge for the Chennai team in the midst of high-profile performers but that is the essence of the National League, a challenge for excellence.

The first phase of the NFL will go on till December 27, thereafter a break in January is scheduled to enable India to participate in the SAAF Cup championship, scheduled in Bangladesh. The whole programme is likely to last till mid-April.

Our New Delhi Correspondent adds: The AIFF president, Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said that the surplus amount generated from the league would be distributed to the participating teams, and that the organising units were free to keep the gate collection.

It was announced that the negotiations were on with the Doordarshan for the coverage of the matches, though a capsule of highlights would be presented to the Satellite networks on a regular basis.

Efforts would also be made to keep some matches at neutral venues like Delhi, to break the pattern of having home and away matches.

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