Kolkata: More than a battle between the league’s oldest and youngest team, Friday’s fixture will be an occasion when football returns to the much revered Maidan at the Mohun Bagan ground.
It has taken Bagan over two decades to bring a national league match into their home ground and coach Sanjoy Sen hoped that fans can go back smiling. “We are playing a Hero I-League match for the very first time at our own ground. The perfect way to commemorate this occasion is by winning the match,” said the Bagan gaffer.
Beginning with 1-0 derby win in their second match, the Mariners have so far managed to remain unbeaten. But three draws and just two victories have seen them slip to the fifth spot in the 10 team table. Coach Sanjoy Sen was however hopeful of his team returning to winning ways.
“We play to win matches but is impossible to win all the games. Obviously will be eyeing full three points from tomorrow’s game,” he said at the pre-match conference.
Calling the draws indifferent from defeats Sen also alerted his boys of pulling up their socks as any more loss may spoil this season. “We cannot afford to lose any more points,” he added.
The Mariners will continue to miss Sony Norde and Arijit Bagui both of who are ruled out, while Eze Kingsley makes his comeback after a one-game suspension. Meanwhile, Azharuddin Mallick could get his first start of the season in the left wing position.
It has not been easy for the 128-year-old club to return to their own ground and it was only after the club managed to built an away team change room, a medical room and two separate rooms for both match officials and the match commissioner, did the All India Football Federation (AIFF) heeded to the idea of Bagan hosting their home matches at their own Areana, also helped but the slew of injuries that occurred at the Barasat stadium’s artificial turf.
With a full 15000 house spectators expected, Bagan seniors from Norde to custodian Shilton Paul to assistant-secretary Srinjoy Bose requested the fans to behave.
“We want to play at home just as you want to see us play here. So, please don’t react in a manner that could make the AIFF blacklist the Mohun Bagan ground,” said Haitian international Norde.
Meanwhile, Bagan have been given the green light to host two matches, that against the Arrows and Chennai City on January 2. These two matches are test cases,” concluded Bose.