KOZHIKODE: Gokulam FC coach Bino George is starting the new season with an apology. Neither Mohun Bagan nor their coach Sankarlal Chakraborty asked for one but George wants to make his intentions clear. On Saturday, Mohun Bagan step into the ring with Gokulam FC at the EMS Corporation stadium in Kozhikode. The two go face-to-face in their season opener. “Everyone keeps hearing about Mohun Bagan and East Bengal and the big teams. I respect Mohun Bagan, but I just want to say sorry to Mohun Bagan. Sorry, but we are not thinking about anyone’s reputation,” George said during the pre-match press conference.
The Kerala side had looked clueless in the first half of last season before they finished the campaign with a reputation as giant killers. Earlier in the season, they had given the impression of a team who were fighting for the wooden spoon.However, it was as if someone handed them a manual titled ‘how to win football matches for beginners’.
They went onto beat the likes of East Bengal, Minerva Punjab and Mohun Bagan to finish seventh. Now, they want to take the fight to the big guns. “We have a great desire to finish in the top three and play in the Super Cup and we even dream of playing in AFC Cup,” George said.
Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan’s supposed changeover from I-League to the ISL next season has been making headlines ahead of the new season. However, Sankarlal didn’t want to get drawn into it. “We are only focussed on tomorrow’s game. We are focussed on winning three points,” he said.
The last meeting between the two sides ended in a draw while the other tie saw Gokulam beat Bagan. Bagan would be looking to build on their CFL triumph as they target the I-League. They are clearly among the favourites. “Mohun Bagan is not just a club, it is like an institution. There is always the pressure to win,” Sankarlal said.
Gokulam are better prepared for their second season. The bleachers have been painted, renovations are underway and the squad has been freshened up. They want to look the part of a club who mean business.
martinj@newindianexpress.com