by Abhishek Gujral/Arunava Chaudhuri

Well, what a season it's been so far! The 8th National League has reached the halfway stage and it's as close as never before. Surprise league leaders Dempo SC have 22 points from 11 matches, only eight points ahead of ninth-placed Mohun Bagan, who have 14 points. With Goa's Dempo SC the currently best "team" leades the NFL, ahead of defending champions East Bengal Club, who started badly but have caught-up since. Dempo coach Armando Colaco has put together a team with no real big stars, be it Indian or foreign, and that is the teams biggest strength that it can replace almost all of their players, if needed. On the other side of the table the fight against relegation is also in full swing. While bottom of the table Indian Bank from Chennai would need a wonder to stay in the NFL, with only two points from 11 matches, 11th placed debutants Mohammedan Sporting Club with nine points are only a point adrift of Calcutta rivals Tollygunge Agragami. So nothing is lost and as close as things are in this NFL, anything is possible. If a team losses five, six matches in the second phase, then teams we can't even think off at the moment could be in trouble and could suddenly face relegation. But it also means teams down the table at the moment could move quite far up with a healthy win streak.

I think it would be fair to say that two Brazilians have hogged the headlines so far - and mind you, for totally different reasons. Farewell, Mr. Jose Marcio Ramirez Barreto. Thank you for the wonderful entertainment over the years - we will miss you, and hope to have you back soon. And as far as you are concerned, Mr. Cristiano da Lima Junior, welcome to Indian football! You have certainly had a stunning impact on proceedings so far!

Mohun Bagan fans around the globe must be fed up of the internal politics by now. I wonder if things will ever change? While one can sympathize with Barreto's plight, leaving the club mid-season and dishonouring contractual obligations is not excusable. It will be interesting to see what the future holds, for the club is determined to take legal action. On the other hand, East Bengal fans must be over the moon. The side is back on top form, and looks ready to deliver the killer punch in the second phase of the NFL plus make an impact in the AFC Cup. And boy, what a fantastic signing Cristiano has been! The tall striker, who has played for Brazil's Vasco da Gama, has scored a sensational 7 goals in his first 8 games for the club. He looks quite skilful, and will no doubt be the club's trump card in the months ahead.

For National League winners East Bengal Club and Federation Cup champions Mahindra United their campaign in Asia also starts this month in the inaugural AFC Cup, the second tier of the Asian Champions League.
Mahindra United have been drawn in Group B and host Oman's Dhofar FC in their opening match, while they would also face Al Wahda Sanaa (Yemen) and Al Wahda (Syria).
East Bengal Club meanwhile are in Group E and travel to Singapore to face Geylang United, while Negri Sembilan (Malaysia) and Island FC (Maldives) are the other sides in the group.

The next couple of months will be very crucial for our national side. The team is set to begin its attempt to qualify for the upcoming 2006 World Cup in Germany with the game against Singapore on February 18 in Goa. As we all know the group is a really tough one with heavy weights Japan, fast improving Oman and Singapore to play home-and-away. The probables for the national side have begun the preparatory camp in Goa right earnest, and I sincerely hope that the players stay injury-free. National coach Stephen Constantine's selection looks good, with all the usual suspects included along with US "Player of Indian Origin" Ebbie Kodiattu, whose case indianfootball.com and the IFSC have been supporting for years now. But the likes of pacey winger Malswam Tulunga, midfielder Clifford Miranda and powerful defender Harpreet Singh might consider themselves a bit unlucky to miss out. However, it is good to see midfielders - talented Hardeep Singh Sangha and hard-working Khalid Jamil back, along with determined goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey. Some rookies from the Tata Football Academy too have the chance to gain some valuable experience in the big league - a really good move to include them, for they are surely the future of Indian football. The next few months will be a severe challenge for our boys, and I hope they keep the flag flying.
As Stephen said the group is difficult but not impossible.
And wonders are part of the game...