58th National Football Championship for LG Santosh Trophy, 2002 | Oct 17 - Nov 05, Imphal - Manipur
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Santosh Trophy News
Manipur hoping to put it across Goa in semi-finals
(Manipur Mail) 02 November 2002, 09:30 IST

Buoyed by their phenomenal success in the tournament so far, local favorites Manipur will be hoping to keep the momentum going when they clash with last year's runners up Goa in the second semi final of the 58th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy here tomorrow.

The home team, having come within sniffing distance of the title which has eluded them for so long, will leave no stone unturned to make it to the final in what promises to a thrilling contest.

The hosts will be hoping to capitalize on the home advantage to put it across the formidable Goans who will be equally determined to regain the coveted trophy.

With a terrific run in the preliminary matches, Manipur entered the quarter final with an impressive track record and were clubbed with Tamil Nadu and Orissa in a comparatively weaker Group D.

In their first match against Orissa, the fast moving Manipur forwards impressed with their ball possession and pumped in as many as four goals with the famed forward line consisting of international P Rennedy Singh, M Bijen Singh, W Tomba Singh and L Tiken Singh clicking.

Bijen Singh in particular had a fantastic tournament and is so far the top scorer with nine goals and has impressed all with his electrifying runs with the ball. Renedy Singh, however, looks a little jaded as he came here after playing a tournament in Mauritius and only fulfills the role of a schemer in the midfield.

However, Renedy's passes have been perfect so far and the Goa defence would have a job at their hand to mark this player as he was instrumental in building up goals for his side.

The vocal Manipur fans had a lot to complain about their team's performance in their second match against Tamil Nadu against whom they managed a draw but sailed to the last four stage by virtue of a better goal difference.

The forward line lacked scrappy and there were numerous defensive errors, particularly by N Uttam Singh, giving Tamil Nadu the advantage. Manipur coach Shant kumar Singh admitted that the team did not play to its potential in that match and hoped they would learn from their mistakes in the crucial match against Goa.

Most of the Manipur players play for various clubs across the country and when it came lo playing for the state, they lack cohesion and understanding. The Goans will try to take advantage of this factor. Goa were given a direct berth to the quarter final stage and had have not really been convincing on their way to the semifinal, particularly in their match against Punjab.

They have acclimatized well to the condition now though Captain Denis Cabral has complained about the use of lighter Nivea balls as compared to the Cosco balls which the team was used to.

The Goans will be strengthened by the presence of star striker Alvito d'Cunha who will be available for tomorrow's match after being shown a red card during the match against Punjab.

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