Guwahati: Mohun Bagan will host Maziya Sports and Recreation Club, Maldives, in their AFC Cup Group G league match, at Indira Gandhi Stadium, here on Wednesday evening.
Both teams are not really familiar with their opponents. “We don’t have any idea about our opponents. It’s going to be a match between unknown sides,” Mohun Bagan coach Sanjay Sen said on Tuesday, ahead of a practice session in the evening. “But, it’s going to be a very good opportunity for our players to show that yes, we can play good football,” a confident Sen said.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC will begin their campaign against Lao Toyota FC, in Vientiane, Laos, on Wednesday.
For the Maldivians, this is the third time in row that they are featuring in the tournament. Bagan last played in the tournament in 2009.
Sen confirmed that Bagan are in full strength. “No injury, no sickness. Everyone is fit and raring to go. We have a very balanced side of experienced and gutsy players,” he said.
With the likes of Sony Norde, Katsumi Yusa, Pronay Haldar, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Cornell Glen, and Luciano Sabrosa in his side, it’s natural for Sen to be confident.
The only worry for Sen will be the fact that Glen is going through a lean patch and have not scored in the last five matches.
Glen, who was the second highest scorer in the I-League last season, however, sounded optimistic.
“These phases are natural in football. I had seen such a phase last season as well and I overcame it with six more goals,” the Trinidad and Tobago World Cupper said.
Maziya coach Ali Suzain said he was not unduly worried about Wednesday’s match. “We have eight to nine Maldives national team players, apart from a Bulgarian defender (Zhivko Dinev). Most of them have played in the SAFF Cup held in India recently,” he said.
Their captain Asadulla Abdullah is their star striker and adds value to their coach’s claim. Unlike Bagan who have four foreigners in Luciano, Norde, Katsumi and Glen, the visitors have only one foreigner (Divev) in their ranks.
About their opponents, Suzain said: “We know Mohun Bagan are a very good side. We hope to play very good football when we meet tomorrow (Wednesday). Everybody knows Mohun Bagan are the strongest team in India. But, we don’t care... We will play our brand of football and, I am sure, it will be a good match,” Abdullah said.
Though Bagan coach Sen hoped Guwahati, being a football loving city, would see a sizeable crowd to cheer his side. But Glen disagreed, saying:
“I don’t think Mohun Bagan has a lot of fans in Guwahati. But, I still expect Guwahati crowd to come out to support us and enjoy good football.” Ticket sales, however, have not been encouraging.
Match starts: 7 pm
