The Hindu : Sport / Football : Injury worry for Mohun Bagan

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Tuesday, Mar 06, 2007
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Injury worry for Mohun Bagan

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: A battle weary Mohun Bagan will take on a pack of fresh troopers from Singapore — Tampines Rovers FC — in the opening Group `F' league fixture of the AFC Cup football tournament to be played here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday.

Ravaged by injuries to a host of its star players including striker Baichung Bhutia and Brazilians Jose Barreto and Fabio Vidal, the home side seems to be in a spot of bother. On the other hand, the visitors are coming fresh from a pre-season training.

Mohun Bagan, as the Federation Cup champions, will make its debut after the format of the continental club competition was revamped in 2004. Bagan played in the Champions League, which is now the prerogative of the advanced nations of the continent.

The AFC Cup is effectively the second division of the AFC Champions League.

Bagan has for company Osotpa FC from Thailand and Pahang from Malaysia apart from Rovers. Bagan is the second Indian team after defending National Football League champions Mahindra United, which has been slotted in Group `E' in the preliminary stage.

In all, 24 teams have been split into six groups of four each. In each group, the matches will be played in home and away league basis. The group toppers will move into the knock-out quarterfinals.

Mahindra too starts its campaign on the same day as Bagan, but it will be playing away against Singapore FC. Chima not worried

The daunting list of injuries did not appear to worry the home side's new coach, Chima Okorie. He said that the playing eleven would be picked from the best talents available.

"I am confident that the team will be coming up with a good performance,'' he said. "I more focused about those who are fit. We have lot of talented youngsters who will be making a very competitive side,'' he added.

Brazilian Douglas Da Silva, who was signed barely four days ago, will be the only foreigner likely to figure in the playing list.

Impressive record

The visitor too has an impressive record to boot. It has played in all the three previous AFC Cup tournaments and reached the quarterfinal stage twice. Rovers' Thai coach Vorawan Chitavanich said that the team has a good mix of youth and experience and that makes it a balanced side. The match will kick-off at 5 p.m.

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