Kolkata: Kingfisher East Bengal, after a series of drama and discussions, is all set to pick up the “Invitation to Bid” documents from the IMG-R. Though, the chance of playing in the ISL is yet to be decided. But it is learnt that the present sponsors of East Bengal insisted the Red & Gold club officials to at least pick up the form of “invitation to bid”. Later East Bengal official Debabrata Sarkar too confirmed www.xtratime.in that they are taking the first initiative by collecting the form.
In an interaction with XtraTime, East Bengal official Debabrata Sarkar said, “Yes, East Bengal to pick up ISL ‘Invitation to Bid’ documents. We have had discussions and we have decided to pick up the form.” He added, “We also had a word with Mohun Bagan and will send a copy of the document to go through the terms and conditions. Then we shall have a further discussion on that.”
Mohun Bagan Assistant Secretary Srinjoy Bose too confessed that their arch rivals will send them a copy of the “invitation to bid” document. Though he told XtraTime, “Yes, whatever the East Bengal officials are saying, is true and they will send us the copy of document to go through the matter. But collecting the form has no connection with playing in the ISL. We are firm on the claims we have placed and until those things get sorted, we can’t assure anything about our participation”. He also said, “Right now our entire focus is on the Federation Cup and we are focusing only on that.”
Now it is to see in which direction the situation proceeds. The officials who were stubborn on their claims are now collecting the form to bid for the ISL and that certainly means that slowly the ice is melting.