Bengaluru FC set to open account in Airtel I-League
- 9:10 AM
- By Football Fans Manipur
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AIFF Media Team
BANGALORE, September 21: Come Sunday and the new look Bangalore Football Stadium is all set to witness the match between the oldest and the newest Football Club of the country.
As debutant Bengaluru FC take on Mohun Bagan in the first round of the Airtel I-League, all eyes will be on Indian captain Sunil Chhetri as he will be looking to help the home side get off to a winning start against Mohun Bagan, who are without their star striker Odafa Okelie.
“This is a big day for us and all of us are really excited. All our hardwork of the last two months will be put to test and I am hopeful that the boys will be able to deliver it on Sunday,” said Ashley Westwood, Head coach of Bengaluru FC.
Apart from Chhetri, the team also has another National Team striker in Robin Singh. But the team’s biggest strength is likely to be its foreigners. Former Middlesborough defender John Johnson and Kenyan Curtis Osano will be the players to look out for at the back, while Australian Sean Rooney is the only foreign striker in the team.
Despite the fact that the team had just two months training and very few practices matches, the Coach is not too much worried.
“The team is in good shape and all the players are fit. We had a good practice match against the Indian National Team last month. We drew that match without Sunil and Robin. So if we can hold the Indian National side without two of our striker, that says it all,” added Westwood.
On the other hand, the visitors are coming into this match after drawing two successive matches against lesser known teams in the Calcutta Football league.
“These two games in Calcutta league were wakeup calls for our side. But at the same time, I will not agree that we played badly,” pointed out Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa.
“See this is a new team, and in the first three matches of Calcutta league, I have tried various combinations and I am happy with the progress and at the same time we are aware where we stand,” he added.
Apart from Odafa, the team will also be missing the services of Manish Bhargav, who hasn’t travelled with the team due to an injury. But with Anyichie Eche back in the side, Karim will now have to worry a little less about his defence, that has been the cause of concern so far.
But the real star for Bagan so far in this season has been Japanese Katsumi Yusa, who has impressed one and all with his pace and skills in the midfield. He has also been amongst the goal scorers for Bagan in the Calcutta league and on Sunday will be Karim’s best bet against the hosts.
The Bagan Coach maintained that he is not taking any team lightly as this year the difference between the team is very less. “Any team can win the I-league this year. However at the same time, to win the I-league one will need to be consistent in all the 26 matches,” maintained Karim.
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