AGENCIES
GUWAHATI
NorthEast United FC host Kerala Blasters FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday in the opening fixture of third edition of Indian Super League.
The Highlanders will be looking to finally break their semi-final curse under new head coach Nelo Vingada by making a strong start to the season after narrowly missing out on the semis in both the previous editions of the league.
The Blasters, on the other hand, will be looking to redeem themselves under Steve Coppell this time around after finishing rock-bottom last year following a runners-up finish in the inaugural edition of the league.
Vingada has overseen his team’s preparation in Dubai and will already have a firm outline of the facets of his squad. Didier Zokora, the team’s marquee for the 2016 campaign, will begin in central midfield for the Highlanders. He will be partnered by Rowllin Borges. Katsumi Yusa’s dexterity for Mohun Bagan will see him retain his winger’s position on the left, though one can expect him to drift in to occupy a role behind the two strikers at every given opportunity.
Coming to the attackers, Nico Velez “ with an impressive season for the Highlanders last season “ should be an automatic starter. He is likely to be deployed behind their target-man Emiliano Alfaro.
The Blasters head into this game with the onus on stopping NorthEast rather than grabbing a win themselves. Depleted severely due to unavailability of players, Coppell has a series of decisions to make even before the team have kicked a ball.
Chekiyot Vineeth and Rino Anto will miss the tie due to their AFC Cup commitments with Bengaluru FC. Chad central midfielder Azrack Mahamat is out injured and is expected to be unavailable for the next couple of ties, while Antonio German, the Blasters’ leading goal-scorer from 2015, will have his participation under a cloud as he has started training a few
days back.
Thongkhosiem Haokip should begin in attack for his side, with the British coach preferring a rigid 4-5-1. Aaron Hughes and Cedric Hengbart will form a solid defensive partnership shielding Graham Stack. Sandesh Jhinghan will begin on the right side of defence for his team.
