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India start as favourites

India start as firm favourites when they taken on Bangladesh in the semi-finals of the eighth SAF Games football tournament in Kathmandu tomorrow.

The teams had met in the final of the 1995 SAF Games tournament. On that occasion, India triumphed by a solitary, golden, goal, scored by local hero Syed Sabir Pasha.

Going by the track record and form, and considering their 2-0 win over the Bangladeshis in the SAFF tournament in Goa prior to these Games, India should find the going easy. At these Games, they won all their Group 'A' league matches by thumping margins and their defence has hardly been tested.

India started a 5-2 drubbing of Pakistan, then thrashed Bhutan 3-0 and topped the group with an all-win record after swamping hosts Nepal 4-0 yesterday.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, lost to Maldives before qualifying for the last four via a solitary goal victory over Sri Lanka.

Indian coach Sukhwinder Singh will sure be pleased with the performances of his wards. His forwards have been able to strike early and put pressure on the rival goal. Vijayan is in top form and has two hat-tricks, in the first two matches, under his belt. Along with strikers Sabir Pasha and Bruno Coutinho, the Indian forward line looks simply formidable.

The midfield also has done well, with Jules Alberto, Hardeep Singh, Basudeb Mondal playing to their potential. But what is worrying is the defence which has not been pushed hard in the tournament. And here's where Bangladesh's mercurial striker Jewel Rana could hold the key to his team fortunes. He has the ability to split defences with his quick bursts and, as such, India's defenders Roberto Fernandes, Dhanesh, Daljit Singh and Prabhjot Singh, who is nursing an injury, will have to watch him closely.

''We will play to our potential. We cannot take any team lightly as Bangladesh could perform well on the given day,'' Sukhwinder said.

The players will have to be wary of the yellow cards also, as five players - Vijayan, Daljit, Dhanesh, Hardeep Sangha and Noel Wilson - already have a booking each.

The other semi-final between Maldives and Nepal is expected to be a close affair. Kathmandu has been a happy hunting ground for Maldives, which surprised everyone by entering the final of the SAFF tournament in 1997. Now they won their league matches with consummate ease. Nepal, on the other hand, has the advantage of playing at home and will be keen to avenge the defeat it suffered in the Goa tournament.

UNI