Pic Courtesy: XtraTime
Kolkata: Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan today officially announced their first foreigner of the season who would be playing in the I-League. Last season’s highest goal scorer from Shillong-Lajong Dipanda Dicka will be donning the Green and Maroon jersey this season. Currently under contract with Mohammedan Sporting Club to play the Calcutta Football League (CFL) Dicka will join Bagan, after the local league ends.
Apart from Dicka, Rana Ghamari has also been confirmed as their player by the Kolkata giants. A total of 9 players were selected for trails in which 3 of the players have been selected. There is no provision of trials for any more foreigners.
For the rest of the games of the CFL, spotters with the likes of Sanjoy Sen, Satyajit Chatterjee, Compton Dutta would be sent to view different players and select them for the I-league.
Apart from the CFl, Mohun Bagan also wishes to play the Durand Cup and Sikkim Governor’s Cup if and only if the terms and conditions are met.
The Federation who visited last month and as per their recommendations the Club Ground is being prepared. The Mariners wishes to make Yuba Bharati Stadium and their own club ground to be the home ground for the I-League. However the question arises as to whether any conversation has been made with ATK regarding playing at the Salt Lake Stadium to which club official Debasish Dutta said “We have informed Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and he is looking into the matter.”
Though they themselves will be playing the I-League, Debasish Dutta thinks that ISL is much ahead than the I-League as the marketing and the broadcasting of ISL is of a much higher standard.
“IMG-R has taken ISL to new heights and hats off to IMG-R for that” said Dutta.
The team for the CFL was also announced by Mohun Bagan:-
GOAL KEEPER: Soramangbam Poirei, Shilton Paul, Shibinraj K, Mithun Samanta.
DEFENDERS: Arijit Bagui, Suman Hazra, Sarthak Golui, Abhishek Das, Bikash Saini, Bikramjit Singh, Surajit Sil, Kinshuk Debnath(Captain), Eze Kingsley, Ricky Lallammawma, Wasim Akram Mallick, Debabrata Roy, Gurginder Kumar.
MIDFIELDERS: Chesterpaul Lyngdoh, Pintu Mahata, Sourav Das, Denson Devdas, Raynier Fernandes, Shilton D’silva, Rohit Mirza, Nikhil Kadam, Israil Gurung
FORWARDS: Azharuddin, Kamo Stephane Bayi, Ghanefo Ansumana Kromah , Naro Hari Shrestha, Uttam Rai
TECHNICAL STAFF FOR CFL: Mentor: Sanjoy Sen
Head Coach: Shankarlal Chakraborty
Gk Coach: Arpan Dey
Physio: Abhinandan Chatterjee
Physical Trainer: Samiran Nag
Meanwhile Pritam Kotal visited the club to collect his last payment where he said “I am very disappointed in leaving Mohun Bagan. While playing here I traveled from my home however this won’t happen in the ISL. But all these things are a part of a professional footballer’s life. If Mohun Bagan selects me, I will come back.”
Today Mohun Bagan played a practice match where they won 2-1 against George telegraph. Chesterpaul Lyngdoh and Minto Mahato scored for the Mariners while Subhankar Das scored for George.