Xtra Time Web Desk: ATK Mohun Bagan Head Coach Antonio Lopez Habas is all set to start training with his team in Goa from Monday, October 19,2020. Habas along with the three Spanish footballers Xabi Hernandez, Tiri and Edu Garcia, will also join the practice. Ace striker Roy Krishna will be reaching Goa on Saturday along with A League footballer Brad Inman.
According to Habas, “The strict protocols rules have to be obeyed. So I was in quarantine. There is a big difference between field practice and online classes. I will finally be able to start training with the boys from Monday. For now I will start training with 23 people. Hopefully we will get the rest of the footballers by next week”.
All the 20 Indian footballers signed for this season, the likes of Sandesh Jingan, Pritam Kotal, Prabir Das and Pranoy Haldar, have already started training in Goa. Two most successful overseas footballers from last season, David Williams and Carl Macaulay have also joined the team on Monday. Another foreign player John Johnson has already received the visa. So, Habas can only get the entire team by the first week of November.
Meanwhile Mohun Bagan club will be officially handed over the I League Trophy in a glittering event at a city hotel in the presence of Shri Aroop Biswas, Hon’ble Minister of PWD, Youth Services and I League CEO Sunando Dhar.
The Trophy would be handed over to players and coaches who are available in Kolkata in presence of Club President Shri Swapan Sadhan Bose and the entire Executive Committee members.
Since, most of the coaches and players will not be able to join the program physically due to the current pandemic scenario and commitments with their respective teams, we have organised to take them on a live Zoom call so they can be part of the event virtually and enjoy the memorable moment and feel a part of the same.
The event had to be shifted from the club tent as planned earlier to a closed confined place adhering to the stringent guidelines and COVID-19 protocols laid down by the Central and State Government.
Post the presentation ceremony a procession has been organized from the hotel to the club tent. The coveted trophy would be put into a glass cascade in an open Jeep to bring it to the club.