KATHMANDU: After finishing agonisingly second in 2007, Tribuvan Army Club (TAC) will resume the long stalled Martyrs Memorial A Division League here from February 20 as one of the title contenders. The Armymen are known for their physical game for which they have often been criticised. They let the championship slip away in 2007. Needing just a draw against Nepal Police Club to claim the league title, they lost the match 0-2 to gift the trophy to the Policemen. TAC coach Raju Kaji Shakya, who have been in charge of the club for the last one-and-half year, said Armymen lost the decider in 2007 due to their technical weaknesses. The 49-year former Nepali international is now all set to infuse the technical abilities in the team. The transformation in the team is evident by the fact the Armymen have made it to the finals of all the five tournaments that Shakya had taken charge of. They won the Tilottama Gold Cup in Butwal defeating their arch rivals Nabil Three Star Club and also went on to claim the National Football Tournament in Tanahun with a win over ANFA U-19 team. They also played two consecutive finals — Aaha Gold Cup and Budha Subba Gold Cup. Shakya said he will field a completely different team in the national league. Shakya is working on to restructure the team, mixing up juniors with seniors. "Some of our juniors have been doing well in the knockout tournaments. Since we have no injury concerns so far, we hope to perform better, said Shakya. TAC have senior players in Mahendra Khawas, Ram Kumar Biswas, Daimoj Dhimal, Bishow Bairag Samal, Shiva Chaudhary, Hari Mahato, Bikarna Shrestha, Chakra Tamang, Chun Bahadur Thapa and Raju Tamang. Bikarna was the second highest scorer in the previous edition with 27 goals while Raju, Chakra, Daimoj, Bishow, Chun and Hari were the other influential players. Shakya is hopeful of bringing in both the technical and physical game by instilling the rising stars in Jukti KC, Amrit Basnet, Yuddha Shahi, Tek Bahadur Budhathoki, Sukra Pradhan and Bed Chaudhary. Shakya considers goalkeeper Bikash Malla a huge asset. "Since boht senior and junior players are eagerly learning the technical skills, we are going to be a very tough team in the league," Shakya added. Skipper Malla also said Shakya has brought about a great change in the team. "We were known for the physical game but with his (Shakya) arrival we have improved a lot in the technical and tactical aspects. The upcoming league would not only be a platform for the coach but for us as well to prove ourselves," said Bikash. The TAC team manager Lt Col Meen Dhoj Karki also agrees that the league would be an acid test for the coach. "We have seen Shakya's calibre in the knockout tournaments. But the league would be a real test for him," said Karki.