Kolkata: Kingfisher East Bengal has been active right after the last season ended, as the Red and Gold brigade is building a strong squad for the forthcoming season. The hunger for winning an I-League title is clearly evident as the officials are doing their best to form a formidable unit despite all the turmoils happening in Indian football. East Bengal’s Advisory Committee Head and Manager Manoranjan Bhattacharya has been in the thick of things to help the side in finding a right balance. In an interaction with www.xtratime.in correspondent Gopal Roy, the legendary Indian defender revealed all the plans and progresses he has for the next season. Here goes the conversation:
XT: In the last season, when you got the responsibility, it was almost the end of the season. Do you think the preparation heading towards the right direction this season?
Manoranjan: A new coach has been appointed for the new season. It depends on his planning now. If it comes in terms of the preparation, the new coach will decide that. I am not the person to make a comment on this. Khalid is the boss of the team now, not me.
XT: Still, you are the Advisory Committee Head. Don’t you have an opinion?
Manoranjan: The picture is not yet clear for me. We will be working according to the plan of Khalid Jamil. It depends on the availability of the players as well.
XT: Did Khalid Jamil discussed with you about retaining Willis Plaza and signing Chennai City FC forward Charles?
Manoranjan: Yes, the coach interacted with me about them. I also said that Willis is a very good player. I am not a person to talk rubbish. Yes, we discussed about both foreigners.
XT: Are you going to Ghana to scout foreign players?
Manoranjan: No, nothing is confirmed as yet. If require, we will think about it.
XT: The club officials have said that not only the Advisory Committee Head, you will be travelling with the team as a manager of the team as well. What’s your take on that?
Manoranjan: Let us build the squad first. We will think about it later when the situation will demand.
XT: Do you think that, on these days jersey doesn’t matter to the players, but money does?
Manoranjan: Well, in our days, we used to have a passion to play for the big clubs by knowing the aura and fame of the clubs on radio commentary. In our times, there was not so much money. But, time changes, so does the mentality.