I league 2009: Viva so far

Any football lover from Kerala would want a winning team in I-league, but the reality is that Viva Kerala is the sole representative from the state. It would be quite an exaggeration, if any viva supporter would have believed that their team would win this edition of I-League. With limited expectations, supporters have been cruising along with Viva in their journey so far in the league. Is it a worth while experience? Time will have the answers. Football Kerala brings to you the saga of Viva so far...

**Churchill Brothers 2 - 0 Viva Kerala
(Goalscorers: Reisangmi Vashum (Churchill Brothers) 5’, Odafa Onyeka Okolie (Churchill Brothers) 29’
** The first match against yet another newly promoted club – Salgocar, fell prey to the late arrived monsoons and led to the eventual cancellation of the match. Viva played its first match against holding I-League champions, Churchill Brothers on 6th October 09. It would have been a tough task for the newly promoted Viva to take on last year’s champions in their very first away outing in I-League. As expected the score card did not throw up any surprise. Viva was beaten 2-0.

Even though Churchill received 2 red cards in the match and were reduced to 9 men, Viva failed to capitalize this. In fact Viva did put up a spirited show in the match even after a goal-keeping error, which led to a goal in the opening 5 minutes.

Adding to the misery was their incompetence in front of the goal; they failed to convert the chances that came beckoning their way.

**Mohun Bagan 2 - 0 Viva Kerala
Goalscorers Mohun Bagan: Snehash Chakraborty (52nd min) and Manish M (90 + 3 min)
** Viva traveled to Kolkata for their second away fixture on 12th October 09 to play Mohun Bagan. Mohun Bagan, the 2nd best team in I-League last year,came in to this edition of I-League as strong contenders for the title. Viva's history shows that they have beaten Bagan in Kolkata in the 2007 edition of I-League. But, they could not repeat their 2007 feat, as they were defeated 2-0!

Viva Kerala’s weaknesses were thoroughly exposed, a goal keeper who committed some super blunders and a forward line that failed to slot in a goal. Sreedharan’s over cautious approach was also questioned after the match, as Reuben Senyo’s lone role in the forward line faltered.

**Viva Kerala 0 - 1 Chirag United
Goalscorers: Edmilson (Chirag United) 3’
** If Viva has to make a mark in this edition of the league, they need to hold a good home record. Viva took on Chirag United in their 3rd I-League match at Calicut Corporation Stadium. Chirag came in to the match with 3 wins against Mohun Bagan, Mumbai FC and Air-India.

Reports suggest that a 15,000 odd crowd supported Viva in their home ground, but Viva could not translate the support into a victory, and they gave away to yet another failure of 1-0. while Viva’s woes in front of the goal continued,this was definitely an improved outing compared to the earlier ones.

Chirag’s Brazilian Edmilson Marquez managed to score as early in the 3rd minute; there after Chirag managed to soak up the wave of Viva attacks in the second half, and hung on to their slender lead till the end. Add to the mix a couple of unfavorable decisions by the referee; the picture was not at all favorable to Viva Kerala.

Third match in a succession for Viva without a goal explained the misery of the team.

**Viva Kerala 4 - 2 Sporting Clube Goa
Goalscorers: (Sporting Clube Goa) Bibiano Fernandes 4',Michael Tayo 86'
(Viva Kerala) Reuben Senyo17', 88' C.Sirajudden 31', KP Anish 63'
** Viva Kerala took on Sporting Clube Goa in their 2nd home match. Sporting had lost 2 of their 3 opening matches and drew one. Drawing inspiration from a spirited display from the previous match against Chirag, even though they lost the match, Viva had to make a mark in their second home match. And they did so, in front of 20,000 spectators at Calicut Corporation Stadium.

Yet another error from the Viva goal keeper Shahinlal, led to the visitors scoring right away in the 4th minute. Viva regained their composure and launched attacks, which repaid. Coupled with some superb display in the second half, the team won the match 4-2. A much awaited victory before the home support.

Viva Kerala 0 - 1 East Bengal
Goalscorers: Syed Rahim Nabi (East Bengal) 11’

While it looked like the team finally started delivering to the demands of I-League, the next match was a let down for Viva Kerala. A struggling East Bengal Team visited Viva. Trouble was brewing in the EB camp, as the team had hit a new low with Mohun Bagan scoring 5 goals in the Kolkata derby. Viva was supposed to capitalize the low morale of the EB team, but they failed.

Viva conceded a goal in the 11th minute and EB hung on to that slender lead all the way to win the match. Viva’s new foreign recruit Wisut Bunpenut Bunpeng donned Viva colours for the first time in this match. But he remained influential only in the 1st half of the match and was substituted in the 2nd half.

Viva Kerala, a team that played without their in-form captain MP Sakeer and Anish KP, lacked the cutting edge on the field to return the goal and lost the match.

Mahindra United 0 - 1 Viva Kerala
Goalscorers: Wisut Bunpeng (Viva Kerala) 29’, Mohammed Rafi (Mahindra United) 53' Viva Kerala took on Mumbai giants Mahindra United in their next away match. An entertaining match at Cooperage where Viva managed to score their first away goal. Wisut Bunpeng, Sakeer and Karma were in good nick and produced some good football. A point away from home against Mahindra United was a good result.

David Booth, the experienced Mahindra Coach had some encouraging words for the Viva team. He said, Viva played some good offensive football and created a lot of chances.

Dempo 3 - 1 Viva Kerala
Goalscorers: T. Karma (Viva Kerala) 17’,
Sunil Chhetri (Dempo) 72’, Ranti Martins 82’, Joaquim Abranches 86’

The next match was played in Goa against a strong Dempo team. It looked like Viva was going to upset the former I-League champions when they scored the 1st goal of the match in the 17th minute.

The team was in good nick after an engaging display in their last match against Mahindra. Wisut and Reuben Senyo looked dangerous but Viva went in to a defensive mode after scoring the opening goal, Wisut was eventually substituted.

It did not help Viva as they lacked the edge to score again. In the dying minutes of the match, the inevitable happened; Viva was found out by the opposition. Questions were raised against Sreedharan's over cautious approach, yet again!

After 7 matches Viva languish in the last position in the league. table .While they took some time to adjust to the demands of the league, off late, the team has been able to create and score. A positive sign indeed! Expectations are that the team would manage to put up a better show in the upcoming home matches and secure maximum points.

Sreedharan's tactics and the team selection would have faltered at times, but squaring every defeat on him is unfair. The team that he has managed to put up is a decent side, with a shoe-string budget,while compared to that of big teams in the league. A relatively inexperienced and young team needs the support from well-wishers at the moment. Viva has to survive in the league for the sake of football in Kerala.

C'mon... Viva!

Unnikrishnan P writes for FootballKerala.com

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Wednesday 18 November 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.