I-League 2009-10 | Match Preview - Viva Kerala vs. Air India

Two in-form teams - Viva Kerala and Air India - face-off in a crucial match of Round 20 of the I-League at Mumbai tomorrow. With only a single point separating the two teams, both the teams will not be satisfied with anything less than maximum.

Neelapada and the Airmen have played each other and the Kerala team has clearly been the better team winning on both occasions. But the Mumbaikars have the advantage of playing on home turf.

Form Guide

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

Viva Kerala – DWDDW

Viva has been on tremendous form against stronger opposition but will need to be wary of the Airmen as their counterparts have been in great form lately. Being unbeaten in six matches, Viva will be looking to keep their record in tact. They will be happy to take a point back home.

Air India – DDWWL

They have not looked back since their loss to city mates Mahindra four rounds back. They have lost twice to Viva and will be hoping to nail the Kerala team at Cooperage. Will it be third time lucky for the Airmen?

Team News

Viva Kerala

Viva has a big dent in their defence with impressive Charles Dzisah and hardworking VV Surjit suspended. If that was not enough, another player from the starting XI, defender K Noushad has not recovered completely from the knee injury he picked up against Chirag. Noushad is likely to sit out with utility player KP Anish is likely to get the nod ahead of Sajesh and Rahul.

Coach Sreedharan has not traveled with the team as he is with family for his daughter’s wedding (and preparations). Assistant coach Bino will lead the team in Sreedharan’s absence but probably on a remote control from Kerala.

The players are on a high after their impressive results lately and the absence of the coach has not affected the team’s morale. They will need to make up for a completely new defence line.

Former junior India starlet Sabeeth will partner Rueben Senyo upfront. The mid-field remains unchanged with the same quartet of Karma, Patrick, Sakeer and Siraj taking field tomorrow.

The four midfielders complement each other so well. Siraj has been the livewire of the Viva team with support from the creative moves of captain Sakeer. His lack of sharing defensive responsibilities has been supplemented by Patrick defensive nest. Karma has not been in the news lately because of his outperforming teammates and it is only a matter of time before he sizzles on the field.

Probable XI (4-4-2): K Sharat – KP Anish, Bello Rasaq, Amarwant Singh, Marshook – T Karma, Raman Patrick Sisupalan, MP Sakeer, C Sirajudeen – CS Sabeeth, Rueben Senyo.

Air India

Coach Yusuf Ansari will have a tough time at the drawing while his Viva counterpart is away on vacation. While he will be glad to welcome back Yusuf Ibrahim and Uttam Singh back in the starting XI, injuries to some key players still giving the Airmen a headache. Man-mountain Harpreet Singh, right winger Soccer Voelho and former junior India striker Mohammed Dada Nabeel are still out of the reckoning due to injuries.

The goalkeeping position has been rotated between Sawant Kunal and Arnad Das Sharma with the latter taking a slight edge by being ahead in the ‘musical chair’ competition.

The coach is likely to play a 5-3-2 with a sweeper back. Iranian Benham is likely to get another start alongside Peter Odafe, Uttam Singh, Ravinder Singh and Santosh Kohli in defence.

With both ND Opara and Kailash Patil is great form, the coach is likely to play both the players again. However, the coach maybe tempted to play Rueben D’Souza and Samson Singh.

Evergreen Vijith Shetty, Praneel Mendon and Yusuf Ibrahim will complete the XI. Khelemba Singh, Allan Dias and Syed Farid may get a chance to play a role in the game at a later stage.

Probable XI (5-3-2): Arnab Das Sharma – Benham, Peter Odafe, Santosh Kohli, Uttam Singh, Ravinder Singh – Vijith Shetty, Yusuy Ibrahim, Praneel Mendon – ND Opara, Kailash Patil.

Players to Watch

C Sirajudeen (Viva Kerala) – The Keralite has been compared to the likes of Kalu and Beto for being extremely influential in the Viva setup. Fans back home are betting on him being Viva’s top goalscorer ahead of Rueben ‘Heskey’ Senyo.

ND Opara (Air India) – The striker has been in good form and his goals have come at a critical time for Air India. He will be looking to score again tomorrow.

Key Matchups

Bello Rasaq vs. ND Opara
C Sirajudeen vs. Vijith Shetty
CS Sabeeth vs. Peter Odafe

Jason Morais writes for footballkerala.com

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Sunday 4 April 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.