Chirag looks for a miracle

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The warnings were audible to everyone but the Chirag camp and after the 3-4 heartbreak at Yuva Bharati Kirangan, relegation from the I-League looks imminent for the Kerala side.

With three matches remaining for Chirag, a clean sweep will keep them afloat, but with Mumbai FC 7 points clear of them in the table of 14, it will require a miracle to turn things around.

“At any cost I will save this team from relegation,” was a promise repeatedly verbalised by Chirag’s technical director Biswajit Bhattacharya since he replaced Sri Lankan Nizam Packeer Ali.

In the four League matches in which the former George Telegraph tactician has been in charge, Chirag has three losses, including the latest one to East Bengal after leading 3-2.

“We can still pull it off with a draw against Salgaocar and wins against Mumbai and Pailan,” said Rana Bandyopadhyay of Chirag Computers, owners of the club.

Considering that the team has never had two wins on the trot this season, will a last minute turnaround be possible?

Even if Chirag draw against Mumbai and beat defending champions Salgaocar and Pailan they will have to do it in emphatic fashion as they have a negative three goal difference with Mumbai.

But the biggest challenge is to get the players to perform. “At least five of our players have received offers from other clubs,” says assistant coach Bino George.

Playmaker Asif, strikers Vineeth and David Sunday, midfielder Usman Ashik and defender Sherin Sam are the Chirag boys who will be leaving the pack even if the team survives relegation. So with the loyalty shifted, will there be the same level of commitment as before?

If relegated, Kerala will not have representation in the I-League for the first time in three seasons. But miracles do happen, don’t they?