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Mohammedan Sporting Club are looking to delay East Bengal Club’s title coronation when they face off in the Calcutta Football League’s Premier Division – A on Thursday afternoon at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium.
The Black Panthers are coming into the game, billed as the Mini Kolkata Derby, on the back of a 2-2 draw against United SC last week which ended their title hopes. However, head coach Mridul Banerjee believes that there is still plenty to play for and strictly advised players to concentrate on the task at hand.
“Overall we had a good season and I am happy about my team’s performance. Despite limited resources, boys put up a brilliant performance in all the matches. We want to continue the good work in our remaining matches and finish the league on high,” coach Banerjee said.
The high voltage clash is crucial to both teams for distinct reasons. While a draw is enough for East Bengal to secure a seventh successive league title, breaking their own record of six back-to-back triumphs, a positive result will brighten Mohammedan Sporting’s chances of finishing second after eight long years.
“It will be an enticing affair and the team which can handle the pressure better will be able to prevail. East Bengal are a very good side and have shown how easily they can dominate teams. But we have shown that we are a team not to be taken lightly. We will go hard at them enforcing our own style of attacking flare and I am confident we will get a positive result out of the game,” coach Banerjee added.
Facing East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting will rely on Ivorian Zikahi Leonce Dodoz alongside the clubs topscorer Manvir Singh, who scored four goals, to lead the frontline with Mumtaz Akhtar, Dipendu Dowary and Atinder Mani all are capable enough in pumping blood through the heartline. Meanwhile, the much awaited club debut of Alexandre Tabillon is likely to happen tomorrow.
For the record, Mohammedan Sporting last defeated East Bengal in the Calcutta Football League on August 10, 2014, since then East Bengal have never lost a single game in CFL and they are unbeaten in 26 straight games, a streak that the Black Panthers will be eager to end.
The match at Kalyani Stadium will kick off at 2.30pm and will televised live on ETV News Bangla.
