Central Excise to give rivals a tough fight

KOCHI: Seven regular players supported by a few youngsters and steered by a former player who has seen it all.That is the Customs and Central Excise team set to represent Kerala in the 26th Federation Cup Basketball Tournament beginning here on Wednesday.Handicapped as they are, the former champions, however, are determined to give the more fancied teams a run for their money as Kochi hosts the premier basketball tournament for the first time.Given that the attention of the country’s basketball fraternity will be fixed on the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, with the final slated for March 18, the team looks at the prestigious event at home as a great opportunity to regain some of the lost ground.The last time they played in the competition, reserved for the champion teams of the top eight states in the national championship, the Kochi-based team had returned triumphant at Bhavnagar, Gujarat, in 2005.The current coach, Sunny Thomas, who played a big part in that memorable win, carrying on gamely till the goal was realised despite a grave injury to his face, is confident that his team is resourceful enough to put a few teams in their places in the course of the five-day tournament.“The players are excited about the prospect of playing a big tournament at home,” said the former international with the spirit that once established him as the top hoopster in the state.“We will give strong teams like ONGC (Dehradun), Western Railway (defending champions) and IOB (Chennai), a real fight.I believe we have the team to make it to the semifinal.From then on, anything can happen.” He did concede, though, that the state champions would be hard-pressed to roll out a full squad if injuries turn up during the event, especially with talented international forward Eudrik Pereira already sidelined with a shin injury.Apart from Manoj and Vivek, towering centre Subhash Shenoy, along with his talented understudies Shinumon Augustine and Roby Thomas, and shooting guard Monish Wilson will lead the charge for the Kochi team.“We will certainly fight till the end,” is all captain Manoj would say.