Kolkata: Former Bangladesh and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi captain and the winning member of the first ISL winning Atletico de Kolkata team, Mamunul Islam now plays his trade for top tier Bangladeshi club Chittagong Abahoni. The midfielder was once the instrumental figure alongside East Bengal’s Wedson Anselme and Mohun Bagan’s Sony Norde in Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi. On and off the field their relationship used to help their club to win many games, derbies, titles. On Sunday, Wedson’s East Bengal will Play against Sony’s Mohun Bagan in Kolkata derby at Siliguri. Before the two superstar Haitians take on each other, Mamunul Islam writes about their strengths, weaknesses, limitations, unknown facts and psychologies exclusively at www.xtratime.in, here goes his analysis:
Sony Norde is more matured than Wedson Anselme. Sony can change the match on his own individual brilliance. He knows what he is capable of. On the flip side, Wedson is an equally talented player but lacks maturity. He has everything but he himself is not aware of what he is capable of. As I said, there is a difference in maturity.
Both Sony Norde and Wedson Anselme played with me in so many games and derbies. Sony is dangerous when he is in one on one situation, he has the dribbling skills to outsmart any defender in one vs one or two situations. But Wedson is highly skillful and has the sudden speed to fox any defence on his own. He is much more creative compare to Sony and has the self belief to outsmart any defence. In terms of strength Wedson is a bit ahead of Sony.
Sony is one dimensional. He can only play on the left flank. That is his only comfort zone. At times he is a bit predictable as well. On the other hand, Wedson is very hot-tempered. If he is sledged or disturbed by his opposition team, he loses the temperament a bit too easily. Oppositions do take advantage of it.
Sony doesn’t like zonal marking. East Bengal can take a note of it. I know it pretty well. He loves to run down the left with pace and then cuts back in. East Bengal should not allow any space to him. If he doesn’t get any space, he will get frustrated. On the other hand, it is a very difficult task to stop Wedson. He is so versatile that he can trouble you in different ways. His sublime skills and with the ball speed is extremely difficult to stop. The only way to stop him is by irritating him verbally.
Wedson again will have an edge in this department. Wedson is a player who always loves to establish his monarchy. Even when they used to play in together in Dhanmondi with me, he always tried to do better than Sony. This would be his first derby in Kolkata. Sony has already earned his fame over there. And that will play as an added motivation for Wedson as he will play against him this time. This Wedson will play with much more intent and zeal.
I have seen almost all the games this season of the I-League. In terms of the team performances, East Bengal is way ahead than Mohun Bagan. Morgan seemed a much better coach than Sanjoy Sen. If East Bengal maintains their team-game, Mohun Bagan will be in immense trouble, specially with the way Trevor’s team played against Bengaluru FC. East Bengal has more match winners than Mohun Bagan. On the other hand, Sony-Katsumi-Duffy combination will be important for them. But the problem is, they are a bit over-dependent on Sony Norde. And there lies their problem. Though derby match is always 50-50 but for me East Bengal will start as favourites for their teamwork.