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I-League: East Bengal aim to level points with Chennai (Preview)
Kolkata, Feb 16 (IANS) Looking to go level on points with leaders Chennai CIty FC, in-form East Bengal will have their task cut out when they take on fellow title contenders Churchill Brothers in a crucial I-League encounter at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Sunday.
East Bengal, placed third with 31 points from 15 games, are on a four-game winning spree and their 5-0 drubbing of wooden spooners Shillong Lajong FC here on Thursday sent a strong message to other title aspirants that the traditional heavyweights are pushing hard for their maiden I-League trophy.
A win will see the hosts go level on points with leaders Chennai City FC, who will remain top of the tree owing to better head-to-head record. Chennai have beaten East Bengal in both their meetings this season with the same 2-1 scoreline.
“I think now we have confidence but not overconfidence. When we analyse the matches with the players, we make sure we control the overconfidence of the players if there is any. We are preparing them to do well in all the matches,” East Bengal’s Spanish coach Alejandro Menendez said on the eve of the game.
In Churchill, who are one spot below them at fourth having 30 points from 17 matches, East Bengal will find an opponent who are short of four key players.
“We lost many points in the last three games and at the same time we did not have the best eleven. This match also we don’t have Hussein Eldor, Dawda Ceesay, N Mohanraj and Richard Costa. We have many players absent. But we will try to do our best. We have a very good team in front of us tomorrow. We will play for the spectators,” Churchill’s Romanian coach Petre Gigiu told reporters.
Churchill were held by Mohun Bagan in their last tie and lost surprisingly to Shillong Lajong 2-3 on the road. Before that, contenders Real Kashmir held them to a 1-1 draw.
Churchill will depend heavily on former East Bengal striker Willis Plaza, who is in red hot form. The Trinidadian is the league’s top scorer and will also have a point to prove to his former employers.
“We have our plans set to win against Churchill Brothers team and not Willis Plaza alone. I prepare for winning matches and when I prepare the defence it is to counter a whole team and not just one player,” Menendez said when asked about Plaza.
“This is a difficult team. They have always been very close to the top of the table and they score very easily. If a team scores a lot they are always a dangerous team,” the home team coach added.
Plaza was also asked if he will be a man on a mission against East Bengal.
“I don’t want to prove anything to East Bengal. I have to prove myself in every game I play. We still have three more games and we can get nine points. We still have the confidence and belief that we can do it,” Plaza said.
East Bengal will once again pin their hopes on the front-three of Jaime Santos, Jobby Justin and Enrique Esqueda to deliver the goods. In their last game, Laldanmawia Ralte netted a hattrick and he will also be high on confidence.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.