GUWAHATI: Assam would look to challenge the dominion of traditional powers in the 16th M. Dutta Roy National under-21 football tournament, which has reached the knock-out phase.

The host finds itself in company of three champion sides — holder Bengal (most titles with six), Goa (three times champion) and Punjab (once) — in the last four stage.

The home side is enjoying a rejuvenated enthusiasm brought about by a gold in the National Games. The triumph of the senior team in February has fired the hopes of the local supporters who feel a maiden youth title is a justified sequel.

The host, which last reached final in 1994, has justified those expectations with three creditable performances so far to top the group league. It beat Delhi 2-0, overwhelmed a traditionally strong side like Kerala 5-0 before holding Bengal 1-1.

Gritty and talented

Assam coach Ganesh Rai, though relieved at having avoided a meeting with Goa in the semifinals, feels his team has the grit and the talent to take on any team in the country.

This statement will come to test on Thursday when it takes on Punjab in the first semifinal.

The home side's fortune arguably depends on the performance of the few outstation imports — four from Manipur and two from Mizoram who are in service for different clubs in the Guwahati league — in its ranks.

While local players like forward Mintu Boro too have had their share of contributions, the imports have given an extra edge to Assam's performance.

Punjab coach Jagir Singh, who has been the mainstay of the State's main football nursery, JCT Academy, feels no team is unbeatable.

Having led the team to the final twice in the last three years (and winning in 2004), the coach says though Assam has the legitimate advantage of playing on home turf, his boys have the ability to overturn predictions.

Not a clean record

Punjab does not have a clean record like Assam, having suffered a reverse against Goa and drawing against Mizoram. Singh says that past does not always determine the future and his boys would be keeping that in mind on Thursday.

The second semifinal will be a clash of the two strongest sides in terms of reputation and records — Bengal and Goa. There are no clear favourites in the match.

Bengal will be eager to realise a hat-trick of titles, while Goa would be looking to end the misery of being left out of the title race in the last four years.

One can expect a good match as both the teams, with no major fitness problems or suspensions, are expected to field their best eleven.

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