Chennaiyin FC hosts Kerala Blasters in its first home tie

Wet weather poses a question

October 20, 2014 05:23 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 04:08 am IST - Chennai

Chennaiyin FC is in a strange position.

Unlike the other teams in the Indian Super League, it hasn’t trained at the ‘home’ venue even for a day. Actually, when Abhishek Bachchan, co-owner of the team, visited the stadium last month, he praised the facilities. He said manicuring work would begin in a day or two. But for reasons unknown, it has taken quite a while to get the ground ready.

With no other ground good enough to practice on, Chennaiyin FC was forced to go to Bangalore. And, for a while, the team was scouting for a “reasonably good practice ground” before settling down for Gateway American International School, on the outskirts of Chennai.

Now, with heavy rain lashing the city over the last three days, the ISL match between Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC scheduled for Tuesday looks likely to be a non-starter. But the ground staff have been putting in phenomenal work and the organisers claim that even if there is no rain for four hours before the match, they would be able to get things on board.

If the match is cancelled, both teams will get a point each and if it does take place, Chennaiyin FC will certainly start the favourite.

Speaking to the media on the eve of the contest, Materazzi brushed aside suggestions that the team couldn’t find a good enough ground to train in Chennai prior to the match. “We are professionals. We have trained in the gym. We can’t beat nature,” he said.

His teammate Bojan Djordjic said, “We’ve had minor problems such as pitch issues. We have put everything behind us. We are keen to perform,” he said.

The Chennai team, which won its first match away against FC Goa, is expected to start with a backline comprising the French duo of Mikael Silvestre and Bernard Mendy and India’s Gouramangi Singh.

Upfront, Balwant Singh, the first Indian to score in the ISL, will be partnered by Brazilian Bruno Pelissari, while marquee signing Elano Blumer will look to provide the much-needed spark in midfield.

Blasters, who lost their first away match to NorthEast United FC, will be pinning its hopes on attacking midfielder Nigerian Penn Orji to give the side a lift. He will look to support strikers Sabeeth and Canadian Iain Hume. Blasters will have to play sharp and its four-man defence will hence have its plate full. Former Newcastle United forward Michael Chopra, who looked short of match fitness during his 30-minute stay against NEUFC, is expected to come off the bench and provide extra thrust.

James, coach-cum-manager of Blasters acknowledged Chennaiyin’s class. “It is a difficult opponent. We need to win this match. We are in the best shape, but we respect Chennaiyin’s ability and talent,” he said.

If all goes well, the city will witness a world class match after a long time. The last time an international match took place here was in May 2008 when Chinese Taipei played against India in a friendly tie.

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