Eduardo ruled out for the opener against Churchill Brothers
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Mohun Bagan's fourth foreigner Eduardo Ferreira will be missing the I League opener against Churchill Brothers on Sunday. Image Source: Xtra Time[/caption]Kolkata: Mohun Bagan coach Sanjay Sen will have to be content with playing only his two foreigners Darryl Duffy and Katsumi Yuasa for the I League opener against Churchill Brothers on January 08. Brazilian Eduardo has been ruled out for the first match since he is yet to regain full fitness. The former FC Pune City defender will take another 5-7 days to regain match fitness. Eduardo, who was tried by Bagan coach Sanjay Sen along with Anas Edathodika in the second team left the field after complaining of a strain in his hamstring. The Equatoguinean defender is confident of getting match fit before the second match against Shillong Lajong on January 13.
“I will take another 5 days t get back to match fitness. I had a slight strain in my hamstring, so I decided to come out of the field,” said Eduardo on the sidelines after the practice session at Rabindra Sarobar stadium.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Sen has been trying a quite a few combinations over the last few days. The Bagan coach started with Pankaj Moula and Darryl Duffy in the main team, keeping Balwant and Jeje in the other team. The two side backs seems to be Pritam Kotal and Subhasish Das likely. Kingshuk Debnath and Raju Gaekwad will guard the deep defense. The midfield is likely to see a few changes as he tried Souvik and Sehnaj in the first team. Pranoy Halder could come in as a substitute. The two halves will be Katsumi Yuasa and Kean Lewis. Debjit Majumder will be under the goalpost.
The Bagan coach was also seen spending a lot of time for set piece movement and stressed on having attacking spells in the middle.
The club president Swapan Sadhan Bose (Tutu Bose) was present during the practice session today. Also present to cheer the team were club‘s top officials Srinjoy Bose and Debasis Dutta. The President had an interaction with the players in the middle after the warm up session. On being asked what did he say to the players, Mr Bose said, “I met all the players and wished them ahead of the I League. There are few players who have a habit to lose cool and get card. I advised them to play safe and be injury free as it is a long league.”
The Bagan President had a special word for new foreigner Darryl Duffy. He said, “I saw both Duffy and Jeje standing together. I requested Duffy to score more goals than him.”
The Bagan President wished luck for his side as the Mariners lost the race in the last hurdle to Bengaluru FC.
“Last year Jeje missed a penalty which led us missing the I League. I hope the mistake is not repeated this year as we want everyone’s support to win the I League,” said Mr Bose.
The Bagan president also announced that they are already in talks with a few sponsors to sponsor them if the I League and ISL merge with each other.
According to Bose, “I have been hearing about the I League & ISL getting merged for a long time. If we have to play ISL we have to rope in a sponsor who will get us Rs 40-45 crore. Else we cannot compete with the other teams.”
Bagan’s star striker Sony Norde is yet to join the team. The Haiti international has recently become a father of a baby boy and is awaiting his passport. Both Sony and his wife had to stay back as it is a pre-requisite for both parents to stay during the time of issue of a new passport.
The Bagan President somewhat jokingly said, “Neither Sony nor we knew that he will become a father at this time and that too in America.”
Norde is likely to join the side next week. Coach Sanjay Sen is not too perturbed with the absence of Sony for the opener against Churchill. He has already informed the Bagan coach about his late arrival. According to Sanjay Sen, “This team has the ability to do well without Sony. We have the ability to beat any side of India.”
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