History beckons Gokulam Kerala when they face Sreenidi Deccan in the penultimate round of the I-League here on Tuesday, as even a draw will hand them the crown and make them the first club to defend the title in the 15-year-old league.
Gokulam are currently on 40 points, six ahead of second-placed Mohammedan Sporting (34 points), and they can win a second successive title on Tuesday even with a defeat if the Kolkata team does not win against Rajasthan United in the second match of the day at Kalyani.
No club in the I-League era has defended its title. Kolkata side East Bengal had achieved the feat in the era of National Football League, the predecessor of I-League, by winning title in 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons.
