Santosh Trophy: Tamil Nadu gears up for maiden title

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Champagne is on ice for Tamil Nadu as they take on Services in the final of the 66th Santosh Trophy at the Barabati Stadium here on Monday.

Tamil Nadu will be gunning for their maiden title in the national football championship, having reached the final once in 1972-73. The record of Services is slightly better; they were champions in 1960-61.

Tamil Nadu’s campaign this year has been nothing short of a fairy tale after no one had given them a chance to come this far.

Coach Syed Sabir Pasha has achieved what his predecessors had failed to accomplish in four decades.

Tamil Nadu are peaking at the right time. The assurance with which they outclassed Manipur in the semifinal augurs well for them.

Tamil Nadu had to overcome injury worries and suspensions on the way to the final. Losing centre-back Naveen Kumar and left-winger V.R. Murugappan early in the tournament was a big blow. A groin injury has sidelined their first-choice goalkeeper Rajini Kumar from the final.

Obstacles, however, have only steeled Tamil Nadu’s resolve further. In the semis, Manipur were caught unawares by Tamil Nadu’s aggressive approach. Tamil Nadu have to be at their best in the final if they have to turn their Santosh dream into a reality.

Quality defending has been Tamil Nadu’s forte so far. Not willing to give an inch, Tamil Nadu defenders — Suman Raj, M. Murthy, K. Sathish and N. Dhinakaran — have risen to the occasion and set the bar high.

Tamil Nadu’s midfield has also been functioning well, with Charles Anandraj and John Paul showing superb chemistry.

S. Karthik, on the left-flank, has been a revelation with his dribbling and pace. Right-winger Nirmal Kumar will use his place in the starting XI to fire in crosses.

Most importanlty, all forwards in the Tamil Nadu ranks — U. Jayakumar, A. Reagan, M. Ramesh and M. David — have found form and the back of the net at least once.

Young custodian Akhil Soman showed no signs of nerves when he was thrown in to replace Rajini against Manipur. His confident display came in for high praise from all quarters.

Sabir said his boys would enjoy the final. “It is indeed a special feeling to be playing the final. Winning the Santosh Trophy would revitalise football in Tamil Nadu.

Services hold a slight edge as they have been playing in Cuttack throughout the tournament. They have also had an extra day’s rest. But it’s a final and nothing can be predicted,” added Sabir.

Services coach Sajit Kumar was confidence personified and has no doubt about the outcome. “Tamil Nadu have emerged as one of the better teams.

They blanked Manipur; it is not a very easy thing to do. Their defence has been strong, but I am confident we can achieve our goal.

Even though we have lost our first-choice goalkeeper Nanao Singh to suspension, I’m confident that Balwant Singh, Nanao’s replacement, will do a competent job,” he added.

The Tamil Nadu team slogged it out in practice on Sunday and looked every bit ready for the big day. There is hunger in their eyes.

Having lost five finals, Services will be eager not to finish second best for the sixth time.