Kolkata, Dec 28 (PTI) Mohun Bagan are set for an I-Leaguedebut at their home ground when they face Indian Arrows heretomorrow as top-tier football returns to Kolkata Maidan afterages.
This is the first time an I-League match will be held atthe Kolkata Maidan and the Mohun Bagan ground which hadwitnessed an average attendance of 20,000 in their CalcuttaFootball League matches this year is all set to make history.
At the same time, the ground had seen some unruly crowdbehaviour affecting the local league matches and the onus willbe on the Mariners' officials to ensure a safe playingenvironment for a top-tier game.
"It will be a proud occasion when we host the first-everI-League game at our ground. We believe there won't be anyglitch whatsoever and we can stage the game successfullywithout any hassles whatsoever," the club's finance secretaryDebashish Dutta said.
Talking about the match, the spotlight will be onNongdamba Naorem, the 17-year-old lad from the All IndiaFootball Federation's developmental side.
Currently on loan to the Arrows from Minerva Punjab FC,the Manipuri midfielder has announced his arrival with a'Messi-like' strike in their 3-0 win over Shillong Lajong intheir last round match.
Naorem's goal is already being labelled as the goal ofthe season by fans and pundits alike as the Arrows' No. 16 ranpast the entire Shillong backline before slotting the ballhome.
"Of course, you feel proud if you hear your namealongside Messi. It's such an honour for me that this goal iscompared with the kind that Messi scores," Naorem, who alsoplayed for India in the FIFA U17 World Cup in October, said.
The Arrows will take a big boost from the goal as theywould look to challenge the Mohun Bagan defence.
"I never really thought I could score such a goal. It hasreally boosted my self-belief and confidence and our team isalso far more confident now," he said ahead of the match.
On the other hand, Mohun Bagan will be bolstered by astrong home support and they will hope to return to winningways after dropping points in their last two outings --against Shillong Lajong and Neroca.
As a result, Mohun Bagan have slipped to fifth place withnine points, three clear of Arrows after five matches each.
A win, however, will take Mohun Bagan to top three,behind Minerva and arch-rivals East Bengal who climbed to thepole position after their win against Gokulam Keralayesterday.
Mohun Bagan will also get a boost with the return oftheir defender Eze Kingsley who faced suspension againstNeroca.
It remains to be seen whether their Haitian playmakerSony Norde makes the playing eleven as he seemed to haveaggravated his knee injury after being given a start againstNeroca but only to be replaced in the 83rd minute.
Mohun Bagan's last win had come against ChurchillBrothers, a 5-0 rout at the Barasat artificial turf onDecember 10.
But several of their players got injured due to theground conditions as Japanese Yuta Kinowaki is already out ofaction, while Norde has been struggling to return to fullfitness. PTI TAP PDSPDS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.