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Going into the new season as the defending champions of the I-League and then failing to make a head start going down, it seems like Salgaocar SC have blunted their edges. But their coach Karim Benchrifa is someone who will not give up the title hopes this early and the gaffer will see a great opportunity to regain his team’s lost shine at Trivandrum as they take on Chirag United Kerala in the eighth round on Saturday.
The Goans side have eight points to their credit from seven matches and are positioned at a lowly ninth spot in the current standings,13 points behind the leaders Dempo SC. While Chirag are languishing at 12th position above HAL SC and Arrows with four points from seven games.
Chirag United will miss the services of Charles Dzisah, who is suspended for two games. While Sherin Sam, Noushad K, Isaac Boakye and Jagdeep Singh are expected to make the backline for Chirag on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Karim Bencherifa will be having a weakened side at his disposal in this away tie as a couple of his players, Karanjit Singh and Rocus Lamare, have joined the Indian camp for the SAFF Championship 2011.
Chirag are yet to open their points account at their new home ground, having lost to Air India, Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa here. Turning the pages of the history book also do not give much hope for the Kerala side. In the last I-League campaign, Salgaocar scored seven goals against the then Viva Kerala without any reply.
The match is slated for kick off at 03:30 PM IST.
