By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay
I-League Media

NEW DELHI: Second Division League embarked an unparalleled journey this season with not less than five debutants including Minerva Academy FC, the troop from the land of five rivers. The exceptional football played by Minerva Academy FC unfurled  a newer chapter of the game in the state of five rivers and another team in Hero I-League from the land, which has produced myriads of ball players in the likes of Inder Singh and Jarnail Singh, looms large.

Dempo SC, the veteran powerhouse from Goa, started their voyage against Mumbai outfit PIFA Sports and won it, thanks to the late winner by Milagres Gonsalves who outfoxed the PIFA custodian from the spot. Since then they suffered back-to-back losses against North Indian brigades, Lonestar Kashmir FC and Minerva Academy FC respectively. They received heavy flaks while Lonestar Kashmir humbled them in their backyard. Dempo SC, the most decorated team in Hero I-League, have to overhaul their gameplan to turn their fate, as well as the table.

PIFA Sports Colaba is a well-known name in Indian football circuit and they almost earned a point in their maiden encounter this season, that too against none other than Dempo SC before conceding a late penalty, eventually it cost them the match. The highest point for PIFA in this edition has been the historic 90 minutes against Lonestar Kashmir at Synthetic Turf Stadium, Srinagar ahead of a mammoth home support for the Kashmir outfit. Critics fell short of words while praising them as they snatched a point from the Lion’s den at the end of a gruelling encounter, unarguably one of the toughest bouts in the Second Division League so far.

Kenkre Sports, another Mumbai outfit in the Second Division League for quite a good time, have denied Lonestar Kashmir FC a win at Cooperage on the first match day. The enviable Kashmir attacking third who have cannoned three goals against Dempo SC, could not consolidate a single attacking threat against Kenkre FC, such were their supremacy in the pitch.

Lonestar Kashmir etched their name in the J&K sports history as they hosted PIFA Sports in their first home match on 6th December, 2015. They stepped on the gas from the first minute itself riding on the massive cheering from the strands. Had they shut the shop for a few more seconds, they could have earned a momentous win. Lonestar Kashmir started their campaign in flying colours against Dempo SC as they overwhelmed the Goa outfit by an unassailable margin of 3-0.

Minerva Academy FC, the only debutant in Western conference, have started the campaign with a breathtaking win over Kenkre Sports courtesy a goal apiece from Harpreet Bedi and skipper Simranjeet Singh. They did produce another masterly performance against Lonestar Kashmir FC and churned out monumental three points in their maiden home match, played at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana. Despite having played with one man short, the players kept their calm and signed off with three points, a miraculous feat indeed against those who missed the Hero I-League 2015-16 by a whisker. After a week, Minerva hosted Dempo SC and completed their hat-trick of win, second at their home. Manvir Singh’s sole strike was enough to secure all three points for the Punjab team.

While we’re appearing another Minerva FC home match tomorrow, a win will provide them enough cushions in the Western conference and a mighty lead over other teams to get the nod in final round. PIFA Sports and Kenkre might play the role of show spoiler for some of the other troops as well. Dempo SC have amassed only 3 points from as many games so far, providing them less time to revive their lost touch to stay afloat in the tourney. Lonestar Kashmir FC, 4 points shy of the toppers Minerva Academy FC, are leaving no stone unturned to secure their spot in the final round, undeniably they would push their limits to snatch the Hero I-League berth, the ‘Holy grail’ of Indian football which eluded them last season.