Chennai, June 13 2009: An upbeat Bengal will be looking to end their 10-year title drought when they face former champions Goa in the final of the 63rd National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here tomorrow.

Bengal have never lost a final against Goa in the Santosh Trophy and have remained supreme in all of their five meetings so far.

History would also be on 29-time champions Bengal's side after they won their last title at the same venue 10 years back.

That time also Goa were at the receiving end, humiliated 0-5 .

Basudeb Mondal, Bhaichung Bhutia, Raman Vijayan, Carlton Chapman and Dipendu Biswas were on target in one of Bengal's most memorable victories.

It was Bengal's sixth Santosh Trophy victory in as many years and also the last.

"I still remember that tournament.

I scored the best goal of my career in the final.

A flying header from the top of the penalty box and I lost my consciousness after landing on the ground.

When I regained my senses, I could not re-collect what had happened.

But the coaches (Sudip Chatterjee and Shankar Banerjee) were congratulating me and slowly everything fell into place," Raman, now in Chennai watching the Santosh Trophy, recounted the last Santosh Trophy win.

Raman said the present Goa team can't be compared to the team Bengal defeated.

Packed with Salgaocar players the Goan side won the Fed Cup and National League that year and coached by Shabbir Ali, the Goans were the overwhelming favourites.

Since their last triumph, things have only headed south for Bengal football after the domicile rule for national championship came into effect.

Their campaign, barring a final appearance in 2007 when they eventually lost to Punjab, have been dismal.

However, things look promising this time.

They have done well so far, playing as a unit and using the width of the pitch to good effect.

The midfield too has combined well and PC Lalwmpuiya's work ethic has been outstanding.

Bengal coach Raghu Nandy promised to stick to an attacking brand of soccer which has borne them fruit so far in their campaign.

"We will play attacking football to regain the title," said Nandy.

Meanwhile, Kolkata outfit Mohun Bagan on Friday promised a cash award of Rs 1 lakh to the Bengal football team if they win the Santosh Trophy in Chennai on Sunday.

"It has been a long 10 years since we won the title.

Bengal boys are doing exceedingly well this time and we hope they return triumphant.

We will award the team with Rs 1 lakh on the Mohun Bagan Day on July 29," Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said.

Coach Raghu Nandy's boys beat Services to make the final and the Indian Football Association (IFA) announced Rs 5,000 for each player and official.

The state association had given the players and the officials Rs 3,000 each after they reached the semi-final.

But IFA is yet to announce any cash award for the players if they return triumphant.

IFA secretary Utpal Ganguly will be in Chennai to watch the summit clash.

On the otherhand, Tamil Nadu coach P Thulasi billed West Bengal as the favourites to win the final.

When asked to choose his favourites, the Tamil Nadu coach said, "West Bengal have a chance to win but if Goa have their luck as against us, they may win as well".

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