Federation Cup Match Preview: SBT vs. HAL
Two teams with great pedigree slug it out for a ticket to Mumbai. Exclusive Live updates and commentary only on footballkerala.com from 18:45 IST.
SBT (Trivandrum) and HAL (Bangalore) face-off today at the Kozhikode Muncipal Stadium for a place in the finals of the 2009 Federation Cup Second Round Qualifiers. Both teams have by far been the most impressive teams in the South Zone qualifiers and they come into the match knowing that the winner takes it all.
Both SBT and HAL have a similar achievements graph. Both teams shot to national limelight in the late 90s. Both teams have played in the erstwhile National Football League with limited success though it can be argued that HAL had a more successful stint compared to SBT. The last time HAL played in the NFL was in 2006/07 and SBT was in the top division back in 2004/05. Both teams have featured several times in the quarters and pre-quarters stages of the Federation Cup in the past.
However, with the introduction of professional football and the transition from NFL to I-League, both teams took the back seat for a year. But they are likely to be back into national reckoning with a place in the I-League Second Division. Failure to qualify for the next round will be a severe blow for both teams.
Form Guide
Last five completed matches during the current season (2009-10) excluding friendlies/practice matches and most recent results first
SBT – WWLWW
SBT thumped their opponents Young Challengers 7-1 and scrapped past Malabar United 2-1 in the previous rounds. Their only loss of the season was in the Trivandrum Super Division against city rivals and eventual district champions Titanium.
HAL – WLWLW
HAL was impressive in their 3-0 win against I-League Second Division outfit Titanium. However, in the run-up to the Federation Cup qualifiers, the defending Bangalore Super Division champions HAL suffered two humiliating defeats to local rivals MEG and BEML in the Puttaiah Memorial Cup.
Team News
SBT
They have not been active in the transfer market and have retained their core team year-on-year. Over the years, SBT has built a formidable team with considerable bench strength.
SBT have no major injury worries except for defender Johnson who injured himself during training and has not travelled with the team to Kozhikode.
New coach VP Shaji has been doing a decent job ever since he has taken over from former coach Najeeb.
They have made just one addition to the team in the form of striker Rakesh K from KSEB whereas, Sreeju, Kannan and Shafi will move in the other direction. Current Viva Kerala first team player VV Surjit was also a key player for SBT last year.
Most of the team has represented Kerala in the Santosh Trophy and many from the current crop of players were part of the triumphant 2004 campaign.
Goalkeepers Harsh Rehman and Jean Christian, defenders Basheer and Edison, midfielders Noushad, Renil and Martin John and forwards Asif Saheer and former India international Abdul Hakeem are seasoned campaigners and are familiar faces in the Indian football fraternity. Young strikers like Rakesh and Mohammed Aslam are no pushovers and can give any defence a hard time.
Probable XI (4-4-2): Harshal Rehman – Mohammed Harris, Abdul Basheer, Sarath BT, Sajith T – Abdul Noushad (C), Kabeer AV, CJ Renil, Martin John – Asif Saheer, Rakesh K.
HAL
HAL has always been widely considered as one of the less fancied teams in the national set-up. They have failed to hold onto some of their talents in the past and this season was no different.
Lots of changes for HAL this season with former junior India internationals Mohammed Dada Nabeel, Goutam Debnath and Sumit Thapa and veteran goalkeeper Gumpe Rime joining I-League teams. And, reinforcements came in the form of Chanambam Jatin Singh, Ricky Joy (both BEML (EM), Bangalore), R. Srikanth, J. Muralidharan (both ONGC, Mumbai) and goalkeeper Amar Deb (Peerless SC, Calcutta).
Coach Muralidaran has been with the team for a while now and the biggest positive for HAL is that they were able to retain eight of their first XI including captain Xavier Vijayakumar, former junior India campers Chetan Kumar and Bimal Minz, and their two foreign recruits.
Defender Joseph Femiadeola and striker Frederick Okwagbe could be the deciding factor in the game against SBT as both of them are in good form and have been an integral part of HAL for a couple of seasons now.
Satish Kumar Jr. who scored a brace against Titanium in the last match and winger Rajendra Prasad are also important members of the first team.
Probable XI (4-4-1-1): Amar Deb – Ricky Joy, Joseph Femiadeola, Jai Kumar, J Murali – Bimal Minz, Satish Kumar Jr., Jotin Singh, Rajendra Prasad – Xavier Vijayakumar (C) – Frederick Okwagbe.
Players to Watch
Martin John (SBT) – The strong and speedy winger from Trivandrum is a difficult customer to handle for any team. While his crosses and supply of through balls are a threat in the middle of the park, he also has an uncanny knack of scoring goals in tight situation
Xavier Vijayakumar (HAL) – This former India camper is one of the most underrated players in the country. His performances have probably been overlooked by the fact that he plays for a non-I League team. But Xavier has been a vital cog in the HAL and Karnataka set-up for a long time. His ability to provide support to Okwagbe will be crucial.
Key Matchups
Abdul Basheer vs. Frederick Okwagbe
Asif Saheer vs. Joseph Femideola
Jason Morais writes for footballkerala.com
December 6th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
i think HAL will win this one.