PUNE, Nov 24: Karim Bencherifa has a lot of issues to tackle as he leads Mohun Bagan to its first away match since he took over last week after leaving successful stint with Salgaocar SC, after barely five rounds were played in the 2012 I-League football championship.
Bencherifa and Odafa Okolie, the most expensive coach and player respectively of the current season, are on the same side but it will take a few wins to get them on even keel. And, as Mohun Bagan readies to meet Mumbai FC on Sunday evening in the Round VII match, Bencherifa wouldn’t have asked for a better setting to begin his new stint.
“The morale of the team is quite high as team is coming from a good win against Salgaocar. They are ready for another challenge, especially against Mumbai FC as I consider no team as weak,” said Bencherifa after he conducted the team through late morning practice session.
After Bagan made a horrendous start to the season when the Kolkata outfit lost first two rounds before finding their feet against Air India at this same ground. That is something Bagan would like to cash in on when they meet Mumbai, albeit it will be a match under lights.
“It feels good joining Mohun Bagan. It has been a smooth transition for me until now, and all are well prepared for the game, also I have known most of the players because I have already coached them or follow them,” said Bencherifa.
Bagan is currently in No 6 position with 10 points from three wins and a draw, while Mumbai FC is at No 10 position with 6 points from two wins.
With the Moroccan in control on his own terms, he would like to begin in style against Mumbai FC, which made a turnaround from fifth round after an appalling start to the season with four losses on the trot.
Bencherifa is no stranger to challenges and this one at Bagan, which he coached earlier too, will be tougher as he has joined in the middle of the season after serving out notice period at Salgaocar, which always wanted to hang on to him but not at the cost the Mariners paid to get the Moroccan.
When Bencherifa watched from sidelines Salgaocar losing to Bagan 0-3 last week at the Salt Lake Stadium, he must have pinched himself. Denson Devadas, Odafa and Stanley
Okoroigwe scored and that gives a lot of confidence to stay with the same combination.
Okoroigwe played a roving role behind skipper Odafa, while Jewel Raja and Devadas patrolled the midfield to thwart the opposition forays. Bencherifa didn’t spell out much, but the Moroccan said he had his plans ready when they take the field on the morrow.
Khalid Jamil on the other hand is not bothered by the hype Bagan creates. No doubt Bagan beat Air India here, but it was a self goal by Micky Fernandes that gave the Mariners 1-0 win. Jamil knows Bagan’s weak spots and he is expecting his strikers Gabriel Fernandes and Yusif Yakubu to attack where it hurts.
In that sense, Gabriel has been a revelation and Jamil in all probability will start with him and Yakubu just as against Shillong Lajong FC, whom the home team beat 4-1.
This will be Mumbai’s FC first home match in floodlights, which should give players some respite from the scorching sun even as winter has set in.
Bencherifa and Odafa Okolie, the most expensive coach and player respectively of the current season, are on the same side but it will take a few wins to get them on even keel. And, as Mohun Bagan readies to meet Mumbai FC on Sunday evening in the Round VII match, Bencherifa wouldn’t have asked for a better setting to begin his new stint.
“The morale of the team is quite high as team is coming from a good win against Salgaocar. They are ready for another challenge, especially against Mumbai FC as I consider no team as weak,” said Bencherifa after he conducted the team through late morning practice session.
After Bagan made a horrendous start to the season when the Kolkata outfit lost first two rounds before finding their feet against Air India at this same ground. That is something Bagan would like to cash in on when they meet Mumbai, albeit it will be a match under lights.
“It feels good joining Mohun Bagan. It has been a smooth transition for me until now, and all are well prepared for the game, also I have known most of the players because I have already coached them or follow them,” said Bencherifa.
Bagan is currently in No 6 position with 10 points from three wins and a draw, while Mumbai FC is at No 10 position with 6 points from two wins.
With the Moroccan in control on his own terms, he would like to begin in style against Mumbai FC, which made a turnaround from fifth round after an appalling start to the season with four losses on the trot.
Bencherifa is no stranger to challenges and this one at Bagan, which he coached earlier too, will be tougher as he has joined in the middle of the season after serving out notice period at Salgaocar, which always wanted to hang on to him but not at the cost the Mariners paid to get the Moroccan.
When Bencherifa watched from sidelines Salgaocar losing to Bagan 0-3 last week at the Salt Lake Stadium, he must have pinched himself. Denson Devadas, Odafa and Stanley
Okoroigwe scored and that gives a lot of confidence to stay with the same combination.
Okoroigwe played a roving role behind skipper Odafa, while Jewel Raja and Devadas patrolled the midfield to thwart the opposition forays. Bencherifa didn’t spell out much, but the Moroccan said he had his plans ready when they take the field on the morrow.
Khalid Jamil on the other hand is not bothered by the hype Bagan creates. No doubt Bagan beat Air India here, but it was a self goal by Micky Fernandes that gave the Mariners 1-0 win. Jamil knows Bagan’s weak spots and he is expecting his strikers Gabriel Fernandes and Yusif Yakubu to attack where it hurts.
In that sense, Gabriel has been a revelation and Jamil in all probability will start with him and Yakubu just as against Shillong Lajong FC, whom the home team beat 4-1.
This will be Mumbai’s FC first home match in floodlights, which should give players some respite from the scorching sun even as winter has set in.
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