AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The 2024-25 I-League is bracing for one of its most anticipated showdown yet, as Churchill Brothers and Namdhari FC prepare to face off in a pivotal Round 16 match at the Namdhari Stadium in Bhaini Sahib on Monday, February 24, 2025. The stakes are sky-high as the season’s defining ‘cat-and-mouse chase’ continues between these two teams who have exchanged the role of league leaders for the better part of the new year.

Churchill Brothers currently lead the pack, holding the top spot with 28 points from 15 matches, which includes eight wins, four draws, and three losses. Despite leading for much of the season, they’ve hit a snag, drawing their last two matches against teams like Delhi FC and Aizawl FC, who are struggling at the bottom of the table. These results have raised a few eyebrows about the Red Machines’ ability to maintain their lead under pressure and head coach Dimitrios Dimitriou would want to allay those fears.

Namdhari FC, just a couple of steps behind in third place with 25 points, are also feeling the pressure after a challenging stretch on the road. Their form has seen a dip, with two losses and a draw in their last three games. However, Harpreet Singh’s side now return to home soil after four consecutive away matches, looking to take advantage of home conditions, where they have been unbeaten in the last five games (four wins and a draw).

Both teams boast significant contributions from their foreign contingent, but it would be inaccurate to suggest they solely depend on them. At Churchill Brothers, while the South African Wayde Lekay and Ghanaian Rafiq Aminu have been instrumental, local talents like Stendly Fernandes, Kingslee Fernandes, Lalremruata Ralte and captain Lamgoulen Hangshing also play pivotal roles.

Similarly, at Namdhari FC, Brazilian Cledson da Silva and Ghanaian Francis Addo spearhead the attack, yet it’s players like Akashdeep Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Peter Haokip, and Jaskaranpreet Singh who have consistently risen to the occasion and made the Punjab side title contenders.

An intriguing subplot in the match would also revolve around the league’s two prolific scorers—Lekay, who has netted 10 goals, and Cledson, close behind with 9. Both forwards have an insatiable hunger for goals and this duel will undoubtedly test the mettle of both teams’ defence.

The spotlight would also be on second-placed Real Kashmir FC, who will face Rajasthan United FC in an away clash later on Monday. Often seen as perennial also-rans who falter at crucial moments, Real Kashmir will be determined to change the narrative this season. The match also offers the Snow Leopards an opportunity to shed their poor travellers tag and get back-to-back away wins following their success in Kozhikode earlier this month.

Real Kashmir will lean on key players such as Paulo Cézar, Aminou Bouba, and Kamal Issah against the seventh-placed Rajasthan side who would be looking to rebound from their recent halt in form—a 10-match unbeaten run snapped by a loss to Sreenidi Deccan. They will bank on Spaniard Alain Oyarzun, their talismanic playmaker, to reignite their campaign and push the restart button.

Inter Kashi, who occupy the fourth position, will be closely following the top three teams’ matches. Holding the same number of points as Namdhari FC but trailing on the head-to-head record, Antonio López Habas’ side have experienced an inconsistent season but should now be focused on cultivating stability as they approach the business end of the competition.

Their next match is against Delhi FC, who currently sit at the bottom of the table and without a win in 2025. After a drubbing at the hands of Gokulam Kerala last time out, they will be relieved to be back at home, although they’ve picked up just one point in the last five matches at the Mahilpur Stadium. Delhi’s next five games are at home, and this stretch of fixtures must feel like do or die for head coach Yan Law in their battle for survival.

I-League Round 16 Fixtures:
February 24, 13:30 – Namdhari FC vs Churchill Brothers FC
February 24, 16:00 – Rajasthan United FC vs Real Kashmir FC
February 25, 16:30 – Dempo SC vs Sreenidi Deccan FC
February 25, 19:00 – Aizawl FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC
February 26, 14:00 – Delhi FC vs Inter Kashi
February 26, 16:00 – SC Bengaluru vs Shillong Lajong FC