Chennai, Nov 29: last year's runners up, the formidable Churchill brothers are confident of putting behind their poor show and upsetting the in-form Indian Bank as both teams go into their third outing in the national football league in the floodlit Nehru Stadium here tomorrow. Indian Bank are cock-a-hoop having defeated ITI Bangalore, playing away and upsetting dempo-Goa on home turf.

Churchill brothers will have to put in everything into this crucial outing with Indian Bank too being expected to go all out to increase their points tally to nine from six.

Spearheaded by the irrepressible left-winger Syed Sabir Pasha and Sri Lankan Kasun Nadika Jayasurya, the bankmen would be aiming to maintain their winning streak on home turf and keen contest is surely on the cards. Before arriving in Chennai, Churchill brothers also suffered a humiliating 3-6 defeat against a Thailand club in the competition for Asian clubs there.

Also they would be without key defender Mahesh Gawali and striker Yakubu Yusif, who are on the injured list.

Churchill have just one point from two matches, having drawn their first outing against Salgaocar and losing narrowly 2-3 to the reigning champions Mohun Bagan 2-3. It was with Bagan that they had played the Asia Cup competition for Asian Clubs in Thailand. Hoping that a floodlit match would attract some crowd, the Tamil Nadu football association has scheduled the match to start at 1800 hrs.

Bureau Report