Kolkata: The current Hero I-League leaders Mohun Bagan is all set to start their AFC Cup journey in the play-off against Sri Lankan Champions Colombo Football Club on Tuesday. The Mariners have flown to Colombo this morning to play the away tie without their two foreigners Sony Norde and Eduardo Ferreira who got rested because of injuries and the Bagan coach seems cautious about the away game as he doesn’t have too much information about the opposition. Before leaving the airport, he said, “I don’t have much knowledge about the opposition. I tried to have some idea about them by watching few of their clips on YouTube. But we have a very strong team and we are ready.”
Sony Norde has been instrumental in Mohun Bagan’s success so far since he joined them back in 2014/15 season and the Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen was asked whether is absence in the international fixture would be a factor. But the gaffer replied, “For me all players have equal value in my side. Sony’s presence definitely helps our side to be strong. But we will play cautiously as we still have the home leg remaining in this clash. Sony played the whole game against DSK. Could he alone help us to win the game? He couldn’t. I believe in team game and all players are equal to me.”
Mohun Bagan’s opposition Colombo Football Club is a professional football club which plays in the Premier Division, the top flight of Sri Lankan football. They are the Current Sri Lanka Premier League Champions as well and won the FA Cup Championship defeating Blue Star SC 1–0 in the final on July 4, 2015 at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Currently remaining on the top of 2016/17 in the Sri Lanka Premier League.
The club was established in April, 2008 to support the sport at a grassroots level, the relatively new club embarked on a journey starting out at the local City Football League and Colombo Football League. They entered the 3rd Division of the Football Federation in 2009/2010 season. They became Division 3 Runners Up in the 2010/2011 season after losing to Matara SC 2–0 in the finals held at Vernon Fernando Stadium, Kalutara.
Colombo FC won its First Championship Trophy on April 25, 2010. Colombo FC beat Java Lane SC 3–2 to win the Silver Cup 2010 Championship organized by the Colombo Football League. In Division 2 of the 2011/12 season, Colombo FC lost in the Semi Finals to the eventual champions in a 5–4 penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 tie during regulation time. That year the 4 semi finalist teams – Solid FC, Matara SC, Super Sun and Colombo FC – were promoted to Division 1.
2015-2016 season was a remarkable and unforgettable as Colombo FC won the much waited Dialog Champions League for the first time in their history. The team comprises of three Nigerian players Momas Yapo, Afeez Olofin and David Osagie. Yapo and Osagie are midfielders and Olofin is a centre forward who will certainly test the strength of the Green and Maroon defense who have to play without their Brazilian defender Eduardo.