By Debayan Mukherjee,
AIFF Media Team,

MANJERI: When Head Coach of Airtel I-League leaders Bengaluru FC Ashley Westwood feels that the fate of the Federation Cup would not be a reflection of the I-League table, one can ascertain that no Team would be wearing the favourites hat in the Country’s Premier Cup Competition, starting January 14 simultaneously in Manjeri and Cochin in Kerala.

 “One thing is for sure, the League table will not determine who is the strongest at the Federation Cup,” Airtel I-League leaders Bengaluru FC Coach Ashley Westwood told www.the-aiff.com in an interview.

Echoing Westwood, Rangdajied United Coach Santosh Kashyap added: “On a given day any Team can beat any Team.”

Both Bengaluru FC and Rangdajied United are in Group B which is billed as the ‘Group of Death’ along with Defending Champions East Bengal, and Sporting Clube de Goa, presently placed second in the Airtel I-League.

Coach Westwood, on whom rests a lot of hope, prefers to play down the expectations: “The challenge is to try and win the Tournament. If we have to win, it will mean five games in 10 days, which is a physical challenge. Also, we will have the humid weather to battle so that will be another challenge.”

“In my eyes, we’re not the favourites. We are a brand new Team finding our feet in a Competitive League and on paper we have the worst squad in the League as we set up late and all the best Players were signed elsewhere,” the former Manchester United Youth Player said.

Oscar Bruzon’s Sporting Clube have also been in fine fettle winning eight of their 14 matches in the I-League so far. The Goan outfit has some local youngsters to look out for. The likes of midfielders Rowlin Borges, Pratesh Shrodkar, India International Victorino Fernandes, and goalkeeper Ravi Kumar have been instrumental in the Flaming Oranje’s success so far this season.

Defending Champions East Bengal as many feel have the strongest squad, though they will miss their Midfield General Mehtab Hossain who has been ruled out of the Tournament with an injury.

“East Bengal have the toughest squad,” Westwood opined.

Salgaocar Coach Derrick Pereira also feels that the red and gold brigade have the toughest team on paper.

“I think they have a very tough Team with good bench strength,” Pereira feels.

Pereira, who won the Cup with Mahindra United in 2005, has been quoted as saying that it will be “touch and go” for all concerned.

“There are no easy teams and the way things have panned out in the League, this edition could provide a surprise. Teams have strengthened themselves and all of them are improving,” the AIFF Coach of the Year has said.

Salgaocar’s Group C have this season’s giant killers Mumbai FC, most accomplished side in the Tournament Mohun Bagan and a rejuvenated Shillong Lajong FC. If Karim Bencherifa’s Mohun Bagan would want to travel back to their glory days in the Country’s Premier Cup Competition, Thangboi Singto’s Lajong would like to maintain their good run too.

Consistent Pune FC who are in Group A, are also among the contenders. “The break in schedule was a welcome one. It helped in reorganising our thoughts ahead of the Final run in the League,” Dutch Coach Mike Snoei has said.

“The Federation Cup will be tough as all Teams have played each other this season and do not remain unknown. We are looking forward to do well.”

Group A will have a local flavour in the form of Eagles FC who would want to leave a mark against the likes of defending I-League Champions Churchill Brothers, United SC and Pune FC. The fact that Eagles FC will be an unknown quantity will keep the Airtel I-League sides in the Group on their toes and it will be exciting to watch them play.

The Federation Cup is also an opportunity for Clubs like Bhowanipore FC and United Sikkim to prove a point by pulling off a few upsets against more formidable opponents in the form of Mohammedan Sporting and Dempo SC in Group D.

For Dempo, it will be a chance to salvage some pride after their not so promising Airtel I-League show in the first half. The five-time League Champions, however, have bolstered their squad with the inclusions of former East Bengal skipper Sanju Pradhan and Afghanistan Captain Zohib Islam Amiri.

The Federation Cup will be anybody’s tournament and with absolutely no room for error, every game will be played like a Final.