2nd Division League: Kenkre FC vs LoneStar Kashmir Preview

by Kaushal Shukla November 16, 2015

The Western Conference of the 2nd Division League, which is the 2nd tier to the I-League is all set to kick off later today as Mumbai’s Kenkre Football Club takes on visitors Lone Star Kashmir FC at the Cooperage stadium in Mumbai. The 2nd Division League will be played on a home-away basis this season as decided by the All India Football Federation and that once again brings back I-League football back to the iconic Cooperage stadium.

Form Guide and Head to Head

Hosts Kenkre FC come into the game with the men from the valley in good form after successive wins against Western Railways and Karnataka Sporting Association in the Mumbai Football League’s Elite Division. Kenkre’s Ivorian striker Yao Bernard has been in fine form having netted four goals in his last two games for the Mumbai club.

LoneStar Kashmir have been preparing their team for the 2nd Division League from the last six months, but the senior team appeared sparingly in Kashmir Super League season where LoneStar Kashmir FC finished runners-up to J&K Bank.  But the Kashmir outfit will be confident of a good show in tomorrow’s game after finishing runners-up in the 2nd Division last time out.

LoneStar Kashmir hold slight edge in the head to head record between the two teams thanks to a 1-0 win over Kenkre FC early on in the 2nd Division League last time out. But Kenkre FC did manage to hold LoneStar Kashmir to a draw in the second meeting between the two clubs.

Team News

Both the teams have no injury worries ahead of the game in Mumbai as both teams are all set to unleash their full strength sides on each other. LoneStar Kashmir FC do have three players from Maharashtra in their team and hence the conditions won’t be too problematic for the LoneStar Kashmir outfit according to Head Coach Hilaai Rasool.

Kenkre FC will have foreign defender Carr making his debut for the side tomorrow as the hosts look to make the most of the home advantage.

Players to watch out for

Yao Kaoussi Bernard – Kenkre FC

Kenkre FC’s Ivorian striker Yao Kaoussi Bernard has been a revelation since coming into the club and was the pick of the players in the 2nd Division League, last time out. The tall forward has been a great success in the Mumbai Football League as well and his goals were critical for Kenkre FC last season as they finished in the top six in the league.  The forward has continued his goal scoring form this season as well and has already bagged four goals in the local league. He will be the greatest threat to the LoneStar Kashmir defence and the visitors will be wary of the forwards ability to create things out of nothing. Kenkre FC’s hopes will largely be pinned on this man to deliver the goods upfront as they look to kick start the 2nd Division League campaign with a win.

Kamaldeep Singh – LoneStar Kashmir 

The LoneStar Kashmir skipper Kamaldeep Singh has brought valuable experience to the team according to Head Coach Hilaai Rasool  and having played for Mumbai FC in the past, Kamaldeep has a good understanding of the conditions. This has made his role in the team all the more important and his experience of playing in Mumbai will come handy for the Kashmiri side.

The game will kick-off at 6:30 PM IST at Cooperage Stadium in Mumbai.