New Delhi: The Ludhiana-based JCT club are yet again struggling to keep themselves afloat in the top division despite their coach having claimed prior to the start of the season that they were targetting a top five finish.
After their first three games, JCT have drawn one and lost two and are placed at No. 13 in the 14-team I-League. While it may be too early to rule out a reversal in fortunes, JCT's coach Parminder Singh will be a worried man.
Already, Mohun Bagan coach Stanley Rosario has stepped down after his team met with a fate similar to the JCT in the first three games and it's only the better goal difference that's kept them ahead of the once Punjab powerhouse.
Parminder had struck a confident note ahead of the start of the season.
"Maninder, who played well for Punjab in the Santosh Trophy, is a player to watch out for. We have signed Rahul Kumar from Chirag United and also Parveen Kumar.
"Baldeep Singh (Senior) is back with us from Salgaocar to strengthen our defence. So, we have a fairly competitive squad," the coach had said.
JCT lost 0-1 to HAL Bangalore in the opening encounter. They then managed to hold Churchill to a 1-1 draw in the second game, but went down 0-2 to Dempo in their third game.
Their next game is against the beleaguered Mohun Bagan on Friday.
JCT's main handicap seems to be their lack of foreign players. In the Federation Cup, they had thre foreign players, but now are left with only one. They're still on the lookout to fill up the three slots and how soon can that void be filled may well decide the fate of JCT in this season of the I-League.
(With inputs from Goal.com)
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