I League | Match Preview: Mumbai FC v/s Viva Kerala

Redemption battle for Mumbai FC and Viva Kerala at the Cooperage on the 4th of January.

Image not recovered: mfc vivaBoth teams will be looking to grab the three points in the offing. One looking for stabilizing its position in the mid-table and the other fighting to stay afloat.

This will be the first match between these relatively new professional teams. It will be an interesting battle in the cards as Viva will be up against some of their state-mates like Anas Edatodika, Faisal Rehman, et al.

Form Guide

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

Viva Kerala – WLWDD

After three home matches and six points from the encounters, Viva will not have the home comfort when they take on Mumbai FC at the Cooperage. The loss against Pune will still be fresh in the mind of the players and they will be wary of the trouble posed by the Mumbaikars.

Mumbai FC – DWDWW

Mumbai FC knows that Viva is not an easy customer as their nemesis Mahindra realised few weeks back. But the Kerala team’s loss to Pune will give them something to cheer about.

Team News

Viva Kerala

Sreedharan will have an uphill task in Mumbai. Rueben Senyo is suspended and unavailability of long-term absentee Sabeeth will mean makeshift striker KP Anish will get another start in the starting XI. Shibinlal scored a goal in the last match which will be a relief for the coach but he is carrying a minor injury from that game. Shibinlal and Anish are likely to feature upfront. Another makeshift striker Ahmed Malik is also injured.

At goal, K Sharat will hold on to the first team place ahead of Shahinlal Meloly. And, the rest of the team pick themselves.

The defence will need to be at their best to counter the height advantage of the Mumbai FC players. It will be a tough question for both Bello and Charles.

Karma has been silent for the last few matches and will be looking to make amends. Sirajudeen and Patrick will need to be at their usual best to keep the Mumbai team quiet.

Skipper Sakeer is high on confidence after scoring the match winning goal against Air India in the last match. The performance also gave him the man of the match award. He will be hoping that the national team scouts are watching him.

Probable XI (4-4-2): K Sharat – K Noushad, Bello Rasaq, Charles Dzisah, VV Surjit – T Karma, Raman Patrick Sisupalan, MP Sakeer, C Sirajuddeen – KP Anish, VK Shibinlal.

Mumbai FC

Uncertainty marked Mumbai FC’s pre-season and their chances of survival, let alone respectable league position, was written off even before it began.

But former player and youth team coach Khalid Jamil graduated to the next level. As coach, he quickly made amends to Mumbai’s disappointment and gave the Mumbaikars a turnaround.

At goal, Jamil has both in-form keeper Nidhinlal and pre-season No. 1 Lihaz Kohay at his disposal. But Nidhinlal is expected to be fielded ahead of the young Maharashtra Santosh Trophy player. Playing in front of the keeper in defence will be Evan Quao, Bernard Achaw, Kerala’s Anas Edatodika and left back Kamaljeet. Veteran Peter Siddiqui, former junior India right back Goutam Debnath and youngster Keegan Pereira provide cover to the first choice players.

The midfield is championed by the experienced Noel Wilson, former India left winger Subhash Chakrobarthy, and youngsters Darren Caldeira and Dane Pereira. Former Malabar United player Faizal Rehman, junior India player Pradeep Mohanraj and Bengali midfielder Surojit Roy are dependable back-up players to the first team players. Veteran Alex Ambrose may also feature in the game at some point of time.

Strikers Abhishek Yadav and Bashiru Abbas will be a towering presence upfront and will look to grab any opportunity to score. They will also be wary of Viva’s weakness on aerial balls and dead ball situations. Kayne Vincent seems to be unfit and has not featured in the team for a while now. Another Kerala player Jerome Sebastian provides cover to Abhishek and Bashiru.

Probable XI (4-4-2): AC Nidhinlal – Evans Quao, Bernard Achaw, Anas Edatodika, Kamaljeet Kumar – Darren Caldeira, Dane Pereira, Noel Wilson, Subhash Chakrobarthy – Abhishek Yadav, Bashiru Abbas.

Players to Watch

MP Sakeer (Viva Kerala) – The captain and playmaker of Viva is coming into the match on the back of his first I-League goal. All eyes will be on this diminutive midfielder.

Abhishek Yadav (Mumbai FC) – The 6 feet plus striker is the man to watch. The Indian national team striker is in form and will look to add to his kitty.

Key Matchups

Bello Rasaq vs. Abhishek Yadav
Charles Dzisah vs. Bashiru Abbas
MP Sakeer vs. Noel Wilson

Jason Morais writes for footballkerala.com

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Wednesday 3 February 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.