Assam to face Punjab in Santosh Trophy today

Santosh Trophy

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Assam will start its final round campaign in Santosh Trophy against hosts Punjab in Ludhiana on Tuesday. The match will kick off 4-00 pm.

Assam, qualified from the North East group, are placed in group ‘B’ along with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab and Sikkim. Two teams from the group will qualify for the semi-finals.

Eight times winner Punjab is always difficult to handle and this time it would be tougher for Assam as Punjab will get the opportunity to play on their own turf. However, Assam is more worried on the temperature of the city then the opponent.

Talking to The Sentinel over telephone from Ludhiana the coach of Assam team Subir Dey said, “The team is gearing up for the first game and will try our best to give tough fight to all our opponents in group stage. However the temperature in Ludhiana is really very high now and we have to overcome this problem very quickly if we want to do well in the tournament.”

Dey added: “Defender Subhakshan Rabha will lead Assam in the final round of the championship. On the other hand two of our key players-Milan Basumatary and Sampow Rangmei-who had little injury related problem are now nearly fit. Expecting both of them in the ground tomorrow or from the next match.”

Assam squad: Bishal Sahu, Khwmdwn Brahma (both goalkeepers); Dipen Moran, Sampow Rongmei, Shyam Narzary, Hiteswar Narzary, Subhakshan Rabha (captain), Udit Bora (all defenders); Shyam Jyoti Pegu, Pulung Daimary, Rakeb Basumatary, Sirandeep Moran, Sagar Hang Limbu, Jianchun Rongmei, Situ Basumatary (all mid fielders); Milan Basumatary, Tulya Das, Akrang Narzary, Bishnu Bordoloi, Ishak Sangma. Head coach: Subir Dey, Assistant coach: Raj Kumar Singha, Manager: Uttam Brahma.

Schedule of Assam: April 9: Assam vs Punjab. April 11: Assam vs Maharashtra. April 13: Assam vs Sikkim. April 15: Assam vs Karnataka.

Also read: Local Sports