Sporting, Churchill have everything to play for

PANAJI: Subhash Bhowmick is perplexed how Sporting Clube de Goa have been left behind in the title-race.
An admirer and friend of Sporting Clube's Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon, Bhowmick — who guided Churchill Brothers to the title last season — was sure that Sporting would snatch the crown from right under everyone's nose, until the club won just one match from their last six.
"I expected them to do much better. They are an extremely good side," said Bhowmick.
Bhowmick, though, has worries of his own. His team is battling relegation and with just five matches left to be played, the fears are growing.
"That's true. We must give this match everything we have," said Bhowmick, when the relegation numbers were shown to him.
Bhowmick will have to temporarily suspend his friendship with Bruzon as Churchill Brothers aim to move clear of the relegation zone when they take on the might of Sporting Clube de Goa at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Sunday.
"My big concern is that the AFC Cup engagements are taking a toll on the team. They are tired," said Bhowmick, who will miss the services of Raju Yumnam, Saran Singh and Sanjay Balmuchu, all injured.
Sporting Clube will be encouraged by their win against Rangdajied United in the last game, and although Bruzon has put talk of the title on hold, he would have known that neither of his challengers is in fine form either.
"The title talk, if at all, can happen only in the concluding game. What we are focusing now is the match against Churchill. Everything else can wait," said Bruzon.
Sporting Clube have played Churchill twice this season and lost both games. In the first leg, Churchill snatched a win with the last kick in an entertaining 3-2 win, Churchill's first in the competition, while the defending champions also won the final of the Federation Cup.
"Past results will not matter," said Bruzon.