Calcutta, Aug. 19 :
Mohun Bagan coach Syed Nayeemuddin?s worries for his team?s Asian Club Cup match versus Muktijoddha Sansad Saturday are far from over. However, while he still mulls over recent defensive lapses, Emeka Achilefu is ?100 per cent fit now?, and that?s a big plus at the other end. ?Achilefu has a fair chance of making it to the first team?s attack line-up.? said the coach today. ?The doctor has worked wonders. Even Itocha Singh?s ankle problem is now okay. It is an important match and we cannot afford to let in silly goals as we have in the league.?
He remains confused about the defence, though. ?We have tried all permutations and combinations in that area and used most on the roster,? he said. Debjit Ghosh will be stopper and is unlikely to be allowed to roam free. What is worrying Nayeem more is that ?expletives from the members? stand? have supposedly shaken the confidence of Satyabrata Bhowmick.
R.P. Singh has recovered completely from his bout of jaundice and that makes the team at least physically fit.
But Nayeem believes he will have to use some of the energy of the midfield in helping the defence. ?That will be essential,? he said.
The overall confidence level of the team, Nayeem said, was ?high?. Obviously he had not included the defence in this estimate.
?Muktijoddha will be no easy team,? warned Nayeem. ?They have players like Jewel Rana, Naquib, two Nigerians (one attacker and one in midfield) and it is a team in form. They should not be taken lightly.?
Nayeem plans to introduce Lukram James Singh later in the match as a ?surprise element.?
?However, the Mohun Bagan ground at this point of time is in pretty poor condition,? he said. ?I?m scared there could be an ankle twist or such... That will be the end of it.?
As per rules, the teams will not be able to use the main pitch at the Salt Lake Stadium for practice. Muktijoddha, who arrive tomorrow morning, too, may have to use the Mohun Bagan ground then. They too will be exposed to these topographical vagaries.