Chennaiyin locks horns with Kerala

But, on match-day, don’t be filled with awe to see the arena draped in a sea of yellow, as opposed to its usual razzmatazz of a heaving mass of dazzling blue, with a prodigious retinue of the Kerala Blasters’ fans descending on the city sharing the collective aspiration of their team’s hunt for bragging rights. 

Without the need for hyperbole, this is one contest that strikes a chord with all the stakeholders. And it is often regarded as a duel that is freighted with a surfeit of tension and theatrics that threaten to boil over at the slightest hint of a shove as it did last year when it lapsed into a fracas after the referee blew the final whistle. If the normal practice of the beautiful game is one where rival players swap jerseys at the conclusion of a match, carrying themselves with the utmost decorum, here they will exchange some choice words or, if it comes to that, even blows. 

This year, a sizeable chunk of the lead actors on both fronts have shifted their allegiance but expect the script to remain true to its tried and tested formula of feverish intensity with sparks and barbs flying in all directions festooning the sky. These are still early days in what is a long drawn-out campaign but, of the two, Chennaiyin has got off the starting blocks with the alacrity of a hare and is currently occupying third spot on the standings, while Kerala, having played a game fewer, is seventh. 

Chennaiyin is fresh from a testing away win against Bengaluru FC, a club awash with a proven track-record, even if almost all of its success came in the I-League and the AFC Cup. More importantly for the host, midfielder Dhanpal Ganesh has made himself an assuring and reliable presence in the middle and kept his head under trying circumstances to nod the ball in to give his team a memorable 2-1 victory with barely a few minutes remaining. However, he will not be able to render his services on Friday as he has accumulated four yellow cards, which results in one-match suspension.After an uncharacteristically quiet start that had fans concerned about his dip in form, striker Jeje Lalpekhlua has scored three goals in as many matches and this certainly augurs well in the lead-up to the all-important clash. 

The Blasters, too, will be riding high on confidence after the much-needed fillip arrived in the form of a win against NorthEast United in its last match. If there is one opponent it hates losing to, it is undoubtedly Chennaiyin, and with its star Bulgarian import Dimitar Berbatov ruled out with an injury, it will be sweating over the fitness of forward Iain Hume.

Regardless of the absence of key players, expect both sides to give it their all, and perhaps a little more, as the latest instalment of the South India Derby gets ready to tickle the fancy of all concerned.