Football: Okoro at large after assaulting scribe

An electronic media sports journalist, on Thursday, had to bear the brunt of irate Mohamaddan Sporting players who have not been paid by the club for months, as their Nigerian recruit and club captain Mike Okoro assaulted the 40-year-old scribe who is now being treated at a hospital with multiple injuries.

An FIR has been lodged against Okoro at the Lake Police Station and the police is now on the lookout for the footballer who is at large.

With this, the club will be without their Nigerian duo of Okoro and Adebayo Adewusi for their Federation Cup opener against Mahindra United on Friday.

Provoked by a specific query, Okoro got agitated and punched at Tamal Mukherjee’s chest as the 40-year-old reporter fell unconscious at the ground, his cameraman Tapas Banerjee told PTI.

Mukherjee works at the Khela-Ar-Khela, a production house of Bengali channel CCTVN.

Mukherjee’s wife Mithu has lodged an FIR against the temperamental Okoro at the Lake Police Station and the police is currently on a search for the club captain.

The incident had led to uncertainty over Mohammadan Sporting’s opening encounter but the club officials held an emergency meeting with the players to sort out the issue.

“There were protests but we managed to bring about a negotiation. And the players have agreed to play tomorrow’s match,” Mohammadan Sporting secretary Sultan Ahmed said, adding that the players’ dues will be cleared this month.

It all happened during the match-eve practice of Mohammadan Sporting players at the Ravindra Sarovar ground this evening.

Recollecting the incident the cameraman of the production house, Banerjee said, “It was around 5.30pm, when Tamal asked Mohammadan Sporting’s Anit Ghosh whether the players, agitated for not being paid by the club, will protest and opt out of Friday’s match.

Anit got angry with this and provoked the club captain, Okoro, who rushed to Tamal landed a few punches before we could overpower the Nigerian.

“Tamal fell unconscious and we rushed him to the nearby Shishu Mangal hospital where he is being treated now. The incident left his wife and everybody in a state of shock. An FIR has been lodged and the police has already seized Okoro’s car, while the player is at large,” Banerjee added.

Known for his angry demeanour, Okoro, it may be noted, had apparently pressurised the club officials to hand over the captaincy which eventually forced the Mohammadan officials to make him the skipper captain replacing Naseem Akhtar.

Okoro is with Mohammadan Sporting from last season and the Nigerian had a stint with East Bengal previously.

The city club, placed second last in the I-League standings, is languishing in the relegation zone with nine points from 10 matches.

Football: I-League Preview: Mohammedan Sporting – Dempo SC

This article is taken from Goal.com, all due credits to them

On any other week, this would be just another clash but with the defending champions Dempo in desperate need for points, all eyes would be glued to the action at Salt Lake Stadium when the Goan side takes on Mohammedan Sporting in a ninth round I-League clash.

Difficult Period…

The Kolkata side haven’t had a very good league campaign so far. With only nine points in their kitty, the club shall look to make their home games count. Earlier, it was the defence which was a cause of worry for Coach Shabbir Ali. But with addition of Anit Ghosh and Madhab Das, the backline looked far more stable as in the earlier games.

Their strike duo of Mike Okoro and Theodore Sunday haven’t had an eventful campaign with the former suffering from fitness problems. Okoro did well against Mahindra and got his side three points but since then, the Ghanaian has been quiet.

At the start of the season, Shabbir Ali stated that his side is primarily dependent on their foreign contingent. With two of three foreign players failing to deliver and going by the coach’s words, their team is in bad form.

Midfielder Adebayo Adewusi has been fighting it hard in the middle of the park and surging ahead at every given opportunity. His presence in the middle has been a boon for the Black and Whites.

It’s high time that Mohammedan picks themselves up and restore some pride before the league enters its winter break.

Returning To Normalcy

No one would have expected Dempo to have a pedestrian showing in the league especially after making history by reaching the AFC Cup semi-finals. Languishing in the lower half of the league table, the Goan side struggled in two key departments – striking and defending.

They wouldn’t convert their chances and that got Coach Armando Colaco to scratch his head for the first time in several years. The defence was committing errors and the confidence which one associated with them was nowhere to be seen except in the midfield. Anthony Pereira, Climax Lawrence and Beto have been exceptional this season.

It doesn’t take long for them to stamp their authority on the match and get the opposition players behind the ball. After a convincing victory over Chirag United in the last round, the defending champions shall look to continue the very same form.

Such was their display that it prompted their coach to mention that his side are back to their best. Three points in this game would help them move ahead in the league ladder and thus finish in the top half.

Form Guide

Mohammedan Sporting

November 14 ’08 Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 Vasco SC (I-League)

November 8 ’08 Chirag United 1-0 Mohammedan Sporting (I-League)

November 2 ’08 Mohammedan Sporting 0-0 East Bengal (I-League)

Dempo SC

November 16 ’08 Dempo SC 4-0 Chirag United (I-League)

November 11 ’08 Mumbai FC 0-0 Dempo SC (I-League)

November 8 ’08 Dempo SC 0-1 Sporting Clube De Goa (I-League)

Team News

The good news for Mohammedan is that Sheikh Azim is back after missing out most of the league campaign. Anit Ghosh and Mir Farooq are back from suspension. The bad news is that Theodore Sunday hasn’t yet recovered while skipper Mike Okoro remains doubtful. Dempo continue to be without striker Mboyo Iyomi who suffered a hamstring injury in the match against Mumbai FC. Defender Mahesh Gawli is back from injury.

Key Areas

Pretty much looks like a one sided match and any loss of points would be Dempo’s own squandering.

Key Players

Vimal Pariyar: The former East Bengal scored in the last game and his pace is certainly threatening. Ranti Martins: The Nigerian is back amongst goals after his two against Chirag. He shall look to add more to his tally.

I League Football

Here is the PTI report about JCT’s match with Vasco

Newly promoted Vasco held JCT to a goalless draw in a listless second round match of the ONGC I-League at Nehru stadium here today.
The match never rose to great heights as both the teams lacked creativity besides wasting the scoring chances that came their way.

JCT, who had more of the exchanges and scoring chances, failed to make the finishing touches with rival keeper Laxmikant Kattimani coming to his side’s rescue on a couple of occasions.

Visiting coach Sukhwinder Singh was, however, satisfied at his team’s performance although they could not collect full points.

“Collecting four points from two away matches is a satisfying result,” he said.

JCT now play Mohammedan sporting at home in their next match on October 11.

The draw ensured Vasco their first point after they lost to Sporting Clube de Goa in their earlier match.

Vasco fielded all their three foreigners for the first time but did not create much of an impact as they failed to click as a team. Their midfield made lots of errors, allowing their rivals to probe more often.

JCT, who beat defending champions Dempo in their earlier match, had at least three chances in the first half but Vasco keeper Laxmikant denied Eduardo Silva from scoring twice.