East Bengal will look to revive their I-League fortunes

A full strength East Bengal will look to revive their I-League fortunes when they take on defending champions Churchill Brothers who will be playing without their star striker Odafe Okolie in their round 11 I-League match at Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Friday. 

For the Goan giants coached by Carlos Pereira, the task appears tougher as they would also miss the services of winger Khanthang Paite and right-back Robert Lalthalma, both of whom are out due to injuries. It will be an interesting proposition for the Churchill Brothers heavily dependent on Odafe who has been ruled out due to double booking. In the Nigerian striker's absence, Felix Chimaokwu will have to shoulder the responsibility. Often criticised for not combining well in the mid-field, it will be a testing times for Ogba Kalu Nnnanna, Dan Ito, Khan Thang Paite and Reisangmi Vashum in the supply line. 

Another worrying factor for coach Pereira would be that their team has just scored an away victory in this season, even as the reigning champions have an unbeaten slate so far. Full points against East Bengal tomorrow will earn Churchill (18 points) the top spot in the table and Pereira would surely have an eye on that. Five points shy of Churchill, East Bengal coach Phillippe de Ridder will look to capitalise on the absence of Odafe in their aim to close in on the top spot. Their inability to score goals even after a Federation Cup triumph in Guwahati recently would be something to worry about for the Belgian coach. Although there are no injury concern, Ridder still appears to be in two minds about inspirational Bhaichung Bhutia's stay in the middle. In the last few matches, the Sikkimese Sniper has been introduced only after the halfway stage while Abel Hammond, Yusif Yakubu are yet to fire for East Bengal. In their respective last matches, East Bengal had played a goalless draw against Mumbai FC, while Churchill too had a similar result against Sporting Clube de Goa.