K H KOCHI: Former national league champions Salgaocar Sports Club, Goa, will be the team to beat as the group ‘C’ matches of the ONGC second division national football league kick off at the Maharaja's College Stadium here on Friday.
With Indian internationals Bijen Singh and Rocus Lamare joined by Brazilian Eduardo Lacerda and Liberian Frank Seator, Salgaocar are upbeat about their chances of progressing. “We look forward to playing well here,'' said manager Sanjeev Nagvenkar. Salgaocar landed in Kochi having lifted the Goa Governor's Cup and the Super Cup this season.
The other teams in the five-team tournament are all from Kerala with the state club runners up Viva Kerala expected to give the Goans a run for their money. Malabar United, registered with the Ernakulam District Football Association, newcomers Chandni FC, Kozhikode, and former state champions Titanium, Thiruvananthapuram, complete the line up. It is the first time four teams from Kerala are playing in a national level league since the start of the professional league system in the country in the 1996-97 season. The state champions SBT, Thiruvananthapuram, are conspicuous by their absence after being disqualified for not meeting the requirements of the AIFF.
In the inaugural match, Viva will take on Titanium.
The return of Nigerians Baba Tunde, striker, and Bello Razak, defender, have strengthened Viva this season.
The top two teams here will be joined in the next stage by the winners from the other two groups to decide the teams that will be promoted to the senior division I-League next season.