I-LEAGUE Media Team

GOA: Dempo Sports Club are sweating on the availability of their foreign players ahead of a Hero I-League Gameweek 13 clash against Bharat FC at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Friday.

Trevor Morgan took charge of Dempo in the last match following the departure of Arthur Papas but it was not a happy outing for the Australian as Dempo lost 0-2 against Mohun Bagan. Crucially, Costa Rican midfielder Carlos Hernandez was sent off for a tussle and is now ruled out of Friday’s clash against Bharat FC.

Defender Calum Angus also missed the last match due to suspected diarrhoea before the match and he only had a light training session on Thursday, putting a huge question mark over his availability. Besides, Australian striker Tolgay Ozbey remains injured, leaving Morgan with a tough task on hand.

“Tolgay is coming back from injury. In two or three weeks we will be okay. But at the moment we are in a dogfight,” said Morgan.

Dempo have signed former India striker Sushil Singh and he may have a role to play against Bharat FC especially because of Dempo’s woes in front of goal. Joy Ferrao is also an option.

Dempo have won just one of their nine matches so far and that came against bottom-placed Sporting Clube de Goa. The Goans have a strong team on paper but somehow have now shown their true potential and are now placed ninth on the eleven team table.

Bharat FC are placed just above Dempo but the Hero I-League debutantes don’t have to face the pressure of saving the drop. The team from Pune, though, have at times given a good account of themselves and have two victories to show in their eight matches.

Bharat FC won a point against Royal Wahingdoh in the last game away in Shillong but coach Stuart Watkiss will have to do without the services of Bobby Hassell, who was sent off for a tussle with Wahingdoh’s Loveday Enyinnaya. Both were sent off.

The visitors have several players who can win matches on their own but the hosts in particular should be wary of Palestinian international centre-back Omar Jarun. Omar scored the equalizer in the last game against Royal Wahingdoh to secure a precious point.

Match KO: March 28 @ 7 PM IST (Ten Action)
Hashtag: #DEMvKBFC