Curtain to come down on Mahindra United Thursday

MUMBAI - After 48 years of existence, the curtain will ring down on famed Mumbai soccer club Mahindra United who face JCT in their last match of the I-League here Thursday.

The club management took the decision earlier this month, at a time when the team was in the title hunt, to disband the club and focus on grassroots level football came. It came as a shocker not only for fans but also footballers, who are now finding it tough to get a team.

On Thursday, the Cooperage will see the last of the Mahindra and team manager Henry Menezes said that he would like his boys to end in style as a win will help them to finish fourth.

“It is an emotional moment for everybody and we would like to end a glorious chapter in Indian football on a winning note,” said Menezes, a former India goalkeeper.

Coach David Booth feels that this is the last chance for his players to leave a long lasting impression in the minds of the fans.

“During the last several weeks, 95 per cent of the players have received contracts elsewhere, so there is no excuse for the lack of performance in recent games,” Booth said.

The Englishman, however, was unhappy with the performance of his boys in the second half of the league.

“I’m surprised when you consider that the same group of players lost just one game in 20 and then only draw one of the next five,” he added.