I-League 2009-10 | Match Preview - Viva Kerala vs. Chirag United

A battered Chirag United take on a spirited Viva Kerala who is on ‘Cloud Nine’.  Both teams are desperate to prove a point or two tomorrow – Chirag need to show they are genuine contenders for the I-League and Viva has the hopes of 35 million people with them in their bid to avoid relegation.

The last time the two teams played each other, the story was just the opposite and the then spirited team Chirag beat the the battered team Viva Kerala by a solitary goal.

Form Guide

Last five completed matches during the current season (2009-10) excluding friendlies/practice matches and most recent results first

Viva Kerala – WDDWD

Viva Kerala is in great form and is unbeaten for the last five matches.  They will definitely look to get something home from Kolkata.

Chirag United – LWWLL

Two wins against lowly Salgaocar and Mumbai FC has not rejuvenated the Kolkata outfit.  They have had three very demoralising defeats and are in a very tight spot.

Team News

Viva Kerala

Coach Sreedharan will be a happy man on the drawing board as he has finally got his starting XI for a match.  Striker Rueben Senyo is back after his one-match suspension and will partner former junior India starlet CS Sabeeth upfront.

The rest of the team pick themselves.  All the players are in great form and the fitness level is also high.

In defence, Bello and Charles will need to have a great evening to keep the opposite strikers Edmilson and Josimar quiet.  Surjit and Noushad will look to cut down the wingers from providing the strikers any supply.

The Viva wingers Siraj and Karma are likely to give their opponents some heartburns with their crafty game and speed.  Central midfield will be controlled by their captain MP Sakeer and PIO Patrick.

The bench also looks good with Rahul, Amarwant, Sajesh, Anish and Shibinlal…all capable of filling in, if required.

Probable XI (4-4-2): K Sharat – K Noushad, Bello Rasaq, Charles Dzisah, VV Surjit – T Karma, Raman Patrick Sisupalan, MP Sakeer, C Sirajudeen – CS Sabeeth, Rueben Senyo.

Chirag United Chirag will be glad to welcome back their star striker Edmilson but will need to chalk out separate plans for him to keep his indiscipline under wraps.

Defenders Subhashish Roy Choudhury and Rahul Kumar are injured but they are not likely to be missed as they have abundance of talent in the defence.

Keralites defender Dhanarajan and captain Denson Devadas will give their team mates the inside story on Viva Kerala as both players are familiar with Coach Sreedharan’s ploys.

Gouranga Dutta is likely to start at right wing ahead of Shylotulunga and Jayanta Sen is likely to start ahead of Lalkamal Bhowmick.

India reject Ashim Biswas will be relegated to the bench with the return of the foreign strikers.  It is still disheartening to see a talented youngster like Lalwampuia not having started a single match this season.

Probable XI (4-5-1): Sandip Nandy – Debnath Kinshuk, Eduardo, Safar Sardar, R Dhanarajan – Gouranga Dutta, Denson Devadas, Jayanta Sen, Gouranga Biswas – Josimar, Edmilson.

Players to Watch CS Sabeeth (Viva Kerala) – The youngster made an interesting comeback to the starting XI with a goal.  But he was not completely fit for the game.  Tomorrow all eyes will be on this youngster to find the net again.

Edmilson (Chirag) – The Brazilian is back from a three match suspension he received for his unsporting behavior.  His attitude at the I-League, Kolkata Premier League and the recently concluded EK Nayanar Gold Cup has been poor.  The AIFF will be closely monitoring his actions for the rest of the season and a must-win match is sure to put Edmilson off-track.

Key Matchups

Bello Rasaq vs. Edmilson

Charles Dzisah vs. Josimar

MP Sakeer vs. Denson Devadas

CS Sabeeth vs. Safar Sardar

Jason Morais writes for footballkerala.com

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Wednesday 31 March 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.