The Hindu : Sport / Football : Bagan looks to regain lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007
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Bagan looks to regain lead

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan will be looking to regain the top position in the league table when it takes on Thailand visitor Osotspa M-150 FC in a group F match of the AFC Cup here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday. Mohun Bagan put up a mediocre showing in the ongoing National Football League and the team will look at the AFC Cup to redeem its pride.

Mohun Bagan had held the same side to a goalless draw in the `away' encounter at Bangkok on April 10. Having home advantage now, the city giant will be trying to earn the full three points that may fetch its former position at the top.

The current group league leader Tampines Rovers of Singapore — having seven points from three encounters — will be playing against bottom placed Pahang FC of Malaysia on the same day.

Undefeated

Mohun Bagan, with two draws (against Rovers and Osotspa) and a win (against Pahang), has remained undefeated so far.

"We have no fitness problems and will be going all out for a win," said Mohun Bagan's new coach Bernard Oparanozie. Mohun Bagan will be banking on its striking twosome Brazilian Jose Barreto and Baichung Bhutia. The team has two more Brazilians — midfielder Favio Vidal and defender Douglas Da Silva. This makes its roster quite impressive. The visitor, represented by its manager Arjharn Songngamsap, sounded cautious saying that Mohun Bagan will be a force to reckon on its home turf. Osotspa, which is currently third with four points from three matches, needs to earn some points from the encounter to keep its chances alive for a next round berth.

Mohun Bagan's sponsor has dedicated a trophy — McDowell's No.1 Celebration man-of-the-match Trophy — for the best player of the match. The match is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

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