“We are switched on and we want to keep it that way,” Mohammedan Sporting Club coach Saheed Ramon remarks. “Winning matches is a confidence booster. We have been in a winning mood and it’s now a matter of consolidating the winning spirit.”

Ramon took his team through the pre-match practice session on Sunday morning as the team prepared for Calcutta Premier Division ‘A’ clash against log leaders Peerless SC at Mohammedan Sporting Ground on Monday, kick-off 2:30 pm.

“The atmosphere in the team is great, as you can see,” observed Ramon. “It’s always good to have such a vibrant atmosphere ahead of a match. We are nearing the end of the league. It means that the fight is on. We have to collect the maximum points to stay in contention for the title,” he added.

The epic encounter presents Mohammedan (16 points from 9 matches) with the opportunity to open a lead of two points over Peerless (17 points), who have a game in hand. While a win for Peerless will ensure that the title race remains firmly in their control.

Mohammedan head into the encounter on the back of a morale-boosting 3-2 win over Mohun Bagan on Thursday. The Black Panthers may have played their best match of the campaign, but Ramon reminded his charges about the fine line between confidence and arrogance, as the Nigerian is fully aware that anything less than three points will invalidate all their previous hard work.

“There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence. We need to stay confident without being arrogant,” warned Ramon.

Peerless will head into game without the services of suspended talisman Ansumana Kromah, who already has 11 goals in the competition from only eight games.

Ramon has admitted his side have been boosted by the absence of Kromah, however, pointed out that Peerless is not a one-man team and have plenty of other attacking threats.

The weight of expectations will in all likelihood be placed on Trinidadian World Cupper Anthony Wolfe and Ghanaian playmaker Edmond Peprah, the duo Ramon described as “important players” who needed to be taken care of.

“Kromah, of course, is a very dangerous player. His absence is an advantage for us, but we know that Peerless have many important players like Wolfe and Peprah. They are not at the top of the log by default. They play well as a team. So we will have to be on guard to deal with their threats.” Ramon noted.

“We have to look at ourselves. It does not matter what your opponent does. It is going to be tough game, but the supporters must brace for another good spectacle,” concluded Ramon.

(Mohammedan Sporting Club)