KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club will look to make a winning start to their Durand Cup campaign when they play Mumbai City FC in a Group B clash at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Saturday.
The black and white brigade is in a good shape being placed third in the Calcutta Football League now. Coach Mairajuddin Wadoo sounded confident ahead of the tie. “I think the boys are ready and there is a very good atmosphere in the team and in the dressing room. Everyone is working very hard and are looking forward to putting our best foot forward tomorrow,” he said.
However, the local giants will be wary of their rivals who ended runners-up last year. Their squad features some top stars including Greg Stewart, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jorge Pereryra Diaz, Phurba Lachenpa as well as new signings like Akash Mishra, Tiri and Jayesh Rane.
Mohammedan Sporting, who have been twice runners-up in the Durand Cup over the past three editions, will look to forwards like Beneston Barretto, David Lalhlansanga and Bikas Singh to get the goals.
“The squad is doing well. Our foreigners are gelling well as a team. So, I think it’s been almost two months since we have started the season and that the boys, they have already recognised everything, the atmosphere in Calcutta and everyone looks very positive. So that is the key.”
In the other match of the day, Bodoland FC will take on Rajasthan United FC in the first-ever Durand Cup game in Kokrajhar, Assam.
