SRINAGAR: I-league debutantes Real Kashmir will face their toughest test so far in the top-flight when they lock horns with Mohun Bagan, a club with some pedigree, in a mid-table clash here Tuesday.
Both teams have played three games so far. Mohun Bagan are one of three unbeaten teams in the league and are lying fifth while Real Kashmir are at seventh with four points. Both teams have rapturous support all around and it promises to be a battle of attrition in cold climes.
For the visitors, there would not be a better time to test some untested resources, given Kashmir have not looked like routing sides even at home yet. Youngsters like Azharduddin Mallick, William Lalnunfela and Shilton Dsilva, for example, have hardly got game time. Abinash Ruidas has also been drafted in recently and coach Sankarlal Chakraborty will be tempted to use more of his young resources at this stage of the league than be caught unaware at critical junctures later. Either Dalraj Singh or Amey Ranawade can also be played at defence.
Sankarlal, however, did not appear to be planning to take any chances saying before the game, “The way Kashmir played the last game was really good. They have a good combination of both Indian and foreign players.
Their defenders, midfielders are very strong. We hope we put up a good game against them and win the three points.” The forward line of Mohun Bagan with Cameroonian Dipanda Dicka and Ugandan Henry Kisseka remains lethal. To add to that the flair of Pintu Mahata and the possibility of Sony Norde joining the attack at any stage, will keep the host’s chief strategist David Robertson wary throughout the game. “Hopefully, we find a balance between the game and the weather.
The biggest achievement for me is that Kashmiri people are coming to support us and are enjoying the environment,” opined the former Aberdeen and Queens Park Rangers man in a pre-game chat. Scotsman Robertson has to make his team believe that they can score without over-dependence on Ivorian target man Gnohere Krizo. (PTI)
