ASEB players practise under the watchful eyes of coach Ganesh Rai at Guwahati?s Nehru Stadium. Picture by Manas Paran

Guwahati, April 7: Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) coach Ganesh Rai is worried about his team?s prospects at the national B-division qualifiers to be held at Belonia near Agartala from April 19.

The lanky Rai, associated with the team since 1990, admitted that the meet could be his toughest tournament as coach till date.

?What I mean is that there will be no easy matches like before. All five teams in the fray are familiar with each other?s style of play. Then there is the Railway Coach Factory?s surprise package. It is going to be tough, but we will put our best foot forward. Making the super division is a dream all of us share,? he said.

ASEB, the Assam club champions, launched its preparations for the 10-day qualifiers on Wednesday. The other teams in the line-up are Manipur police, Railway Coach Factory of Kapurthala, Lajong FC of Shillong and Nine Bullet of Tripura.

Only one team will qualify from this group to meet 14 others in the second round of qualifiers. Two teams will eventually make the super division from the B-division.

This is the fourth consecutive time that the ASEB will play in the qualifying round. It made the cut after beating Oil India Limited by a solitary goal in the final of the Assam club championships held at Gossaigaon.

Rai said all his players looked in touch, but would have to work on their fitness level. ?There are no injury worries like the last few seasons. Fitness is one area we need to lay stress on over the next few days.?

The team leaves for Tripura on April 16.