[caption id="attachment_19250" align="alignnone" width="580"]Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia requests Mohun Bagan to play the CFL derby. File Pic Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia requests Mohun Bagan to play the CFL derby. File Pic[/caption] Kolkata: Former India captain Baichung Bhutia had requested Mohun Bagan to play in the CFL derby as the limelight of the CFL is the derby match between the two giants of Indian football. Baichung Bhutia who was present in the CCFC ground today to watch the practice match between East Bengal and CCFC said, "I would like to request Mohun Bagan officials to take back their decision of withdrawing their name from playing the CFL derby as the derby is the only match which decides the CFL champions. Not only that people fill up the stadiums in huge numbers to watch this match." Earlier, Baichung had also spoke in support of the two giants in the recently concluded AIFF executive committee meeting and had urged AIFF officials to replan the Indian football structure keeping in mind the two clubs from Kolkata. Baichung said, "We cannot think anything of doing something for football leaving East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. As a former player of these two clubs, I can assure that participation of these two clubs in the ISL will only pull the crowd to a higher percentage." Regarding East Bengal chance of making history in the CFL by winning it for the record consecutive seventh time, he said, "I would like to wish East Bengal all the very best. They are a well organised side and hope they will win the CFL. Not only the CFL East bengal has a good team to win the I-League this time as it is a mixture of junior and senior players which jells the team well." Baichung was found having a round of discussions with East Bengal officials today at the CCFC ground. He also had a round of discussion with coach Trevor Morgan and Richard Dryden as well as his former teammates. Baichung encouraged the young brigade which played today's match.

Indian football icon Baichung Bhutia requests Mohun Bagan to play the CFL derby