Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Mohun Bagan will be looking to make amends for their IFA Shield final loss when they face Churchill Brothers in the Durand Cup title clash at the Ambedkar Stadium here Tuesday.
Mohun Bagan are on the verge of creating history as the win would be their record 17th Durand Cup title in their 27th final appearance while Churchill will be looking to make up for the loss in last year’s final.

The loss to Churchill Brothers in the IFA Shield final has hurt Mohun Bagan and it was apparent from the Kolkata club’s desperation to make the final. It has been an impressive performance by Mohun Bagan en route to their first Durand final appearance since 2004 when they lost to East Bengal in the final.

This time Mohun Bagan look determined to win and so are Churchill Brothers.

I-League champions Churchill Brothers shrugged the stress of playing back to back to tournaments in their run-up to the final.

Nigerian striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie carried on his prolific goal scoring abilities and has got good support from Robert, Vashum while India international Gourmangi Singh has been terrific in the defence.

For Mohun Bagan, their strikers Brazilian Jose Ramirez Barreto and Edeh Chidi of Nigeria have been incredible and coach Karim Bencherifa would be banking on the duo in the final as well.

No one knows Churchill better than Bencherifa — afterall the Moroccan was in charge of the Goan team two years back. It is same for Churchill coach Carlos Alebrto Pereira as the Brazilian coached the same bunch of Mohun Bagan players two years back guiding them to the Federation Cup victory.

Bencherifa feels that Tuesday’s final wouldn’t be revenge match but Mohun Bagan will be going out for a win to boost the team’s chances in the I-League that starts Oct 1.

“We are not thinking of taking revenge in tomorrow’s final. It will just be a game of football. Of course, we would play to win,” Bencherifa said. “I have said earlier, we are playing in the Durand Cup as a preparation for the I-League.”

Bencherifa was all praise for Barreto and Chidi. “They are doing well at the upfront and scoring goals. That is good sign for the team ahead of the I-League,” he said.

Odafe, Churchill’s man of all season, is well aware of the responsibilities on his shoulder.

“My job is to score goals. Will try to work religiously and everything will fall in place,” he said.