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Gokulam Kerala host defending champions Minerva Punjab in mid-table clash

Published at :November 17, 2018 at 5:18 PM
Modified at :December 13, 2023 at 1:01 PM
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(Courtesy : File Photo/I-League)

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Both the sides have won only one game in the league so far.

Gokulam Kerala FC take on reigning champions Minerva Punjab FC at the EMS Corporation stadium in Kozhikode on Sunday, November 18, 2018, in what promises to be an enthralling encounter, with a win guaranteeing second place in the 12th Hero I-League standings and two teams clearly on the ascendancy. The game is scheduled for a 7.30 PM kick-off under lights. Hosts Gokulam have collected five points so far from their four games and coach Bino George seems to have built a fighting unit with local players leading the charge and foreigners acting as a perfect foil. They currently sit in the fifth position and a win at home could propel them into sole second place in the standings.

They looked scrappy in their first draw at home against Mohun Bagan but ever since coming back against NEROCA away from home, they have only looked better with every game. They lost an exciting encounter to Chennai at home and then completely overwhelmed Shillong in continuation with the improvement shown.

What is even more heartening from an Indian fan’s perspective is that players like Rajesh, Suhair and Gani Nigam have shown an attacking bent of mind at all times, even when the team is behind in the game. Meanwhile, skipper Mudde Musa is undergoing the suspension and it’ll continue for two more matches following the marching orders that he received against Chennai City FC.

Coaches' Corner

Bino George (Gokulam Kerala)

Coach Bino was brimming with confidence and rightly so before the game saying, “We got back to the winning mode in the last match at home and played with full confidence. We will play the same way tomorrow. There is no fear or pressure amongst my boys. This is a football game and anything can happen. We will surely be happy if we beat the defending champions.”

The champions too look completely transformed with the induction of two Nigerians Donatus Edafe and Bala Hassan Dahir into their ranks. Edafe, in particular, brought some serious attacking flair in the game against Aizawl and both seem to have formed working partnerships with the other foreign recruits like William Opoku and Philip Njoku already, making them suddenly look dangerous after a dour opening game loss to Real Kashmir.

Irishman Paul Munster, the Minerva head strategist and their enthusiastic owner Ranjit Bajaj would like nothing less than a win, which will likewise take them to the second spot from their current seventh spot in the standings.

Paul Munster (Minerva Punjab FC)

Speaking before the game Minerva coach Munster shared, “we are very confident after the last game. For me, it’s the team who performs not any individual player. They have a mixed bag of results so far and we have seen their game plan. We hope it will be an interesting game tomorrow.”

The Kerala side will do well to tighten their defense though as they have conceded six so far in the four games and even though they are way ahead 7-2 against Minerva on the goals scored chart, Minerva has only conceded two so far and in a tight clash, the better defense often wins the day. All in all, it promises to be a thrilling clash between two in-form teams.

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Team News

Gokulam Kerala

The Malabarians do not have any major injury concerns. They will also miss the services of Mudde Musa who was shown a red card against Chennai City FC.

Minerva Punjab

The defending champions also do not have any major injury concerns and will be looking to register a win against the hosts.

Probable Lineups

Gokulam Kerala- Shibinraj (GK), Deepak, Ortiz, Addo, Timothy, Castro, Rashid, Das, Gani, Rajesh, Suhair.

Minerva Punjab- Bhaskar (GK), Njoku, Toure, Dahir, Akashdeep, Das, Edafe, Arashpreet, Opoku, Amandeep, Moinuddin.

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Broadcast

The game will be telecasted live at 7:30 PM on Thursday on Star Sports 3 along with Hotstar and Jio TV.  

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