Staff Reporter
CHIMPU, Mar 6: A fierce battle for a berth in the final is expected on Saturday, when spirited Capital Complex FC (CCFC) and defending champion Gora Makik SC (GMSC) will meet each other in the first semifinal (Qualifier 1) of the Indrajit Namchoom Arunachal League (INAL) here.
Capital Complex had lost 0-2 to GMSC when the two had met in the league round on 19 February. Saturday’s game will offer CCFC a golden chance to avenge that defeat.
CCFC finished the league on top of the point table with four wins and a loss. They conceded five goals, while on the other hand scored 24 goals.
Second place finisher GMSC’s morale is high because of their unbeaten run in the league round. They scored 14 goals and conceded only two goals in five matches with a 3-2 win-draw record.
The coaches of both the teams admitted that Saturday’s will be a tight game and it could go to either side.
“CCFC are likely to start the game on an attacking note in order to take an early lead. Their mid-fielding is good. But we have arsenals to thwart their attempt,” said GMSC coach Dorjee Wangja.
“Our aim is to play according to the situation and win the match,” Wangja said.
GMSC have two recruits from Meghalaya. CCFC will be fielding a full-strength and injury-free team, comprising mostly of young men, against the reigning champion.
“We have no injury problem and will be fielding a full-strength team in the all-important match,” said CCFC coach Kipa Bharat.
Bharat said he didn’t field a full-strength team during the league match against GMSC “to test the bench-strength,” and attributed it to the team’s loss in that game.
CCFC have three recruits – one each from Bhutan, Nepal and Darjeeling (WB) – and all are in full form.
