Derby time but Bagan, East Bengal look far from settled
KOLKATA: Sony Norde isn’t playing and no one is sure if Johnny Acosta, who has shared a pitch with Neymar in the World Cup, will; neither East Bengal nor Mohun Bagan are in the top half of the standings but none of that will matter on Sunday when they meet here in the I-league. Not everyone gets it but for those who do, the pull of a football derby is often greater than the sum of their team’s performance in the entire season.
“The mood reminds me of the derbies back home, between Real and Atletico; Real and Barcelona,” said Alejandro Menendez, East Bengal’s Spanish coach, who has also been part of the staff at Real Madrid’s youth teams, after Saturday’s closed-door session. Going into the weekend’s fixtures, the highest attendance recorded this term was 30,246 when Gokulam Kerala FC hosted Minerva Punjab FC last month. The first Kolkata derby should set a new mark.
With his usual calm, Mohun Bagan coach Sankarlal Chakraborty said the teams being in the bottom half with nine points from six games — eight adrift of leaders Chennai City FC who have played a game more — does not mean another blow to their position of eminence. “We should have been higher on the table. Hopefully, we will be able to change that tomorrow,” he said.
Both teams have leaky back- lines proof of which lies in their inability to keep a clean sheet at home. Getting to understand the ways of a new coach has added to East Bengal’s settling-down pangs. “Adjusting to a new system takes time but we are getting better. I think we are better collectively from what we were last season,” said East Bengal midfielder Kassim Aidara.
The absence of Norde, Mohun Bagan’s talisman who swayed past two Chennai City defenders before scoring in the last game, could have been neutralised by East Bengal missing Spaniard Enrique Tirado, who has scored three goals, but in 23-year-old Jaime Colado they have a surprise package .
KASHMIR EARN DRAW
KOZHIKODE: Real Kashmir FC rallied to earn a 1-1 draw against Gokulam Kerala FC in an I-league match. Pritam Singh soored for Kerala in the 20th minute before Surchandra Singh netted the equaliser in the 69th.
SELECTIONS
1. 4-Flaming, 7-Findlerhof.
2. 3-Costa Brava, 1-New England. 3. 3-Riquewihr, 7-Fine Tune. 4. 2-Medici, 1-El Comandante. 5. 5-Kariega, 2-Headway, 9-Starringo. 6. 7-Sir Cecil, 8-Star Supirior.
7. 5-Clark Kent, 4-Chozen One. 8. 6-Grand Tenton, 11-Hyannis.
Day’s best: Sir Cecil.
Double: Costa Brava – Grand Tenton
Patil SA
PLAYER FOUND GUILTY OF PITCH TAMPERING
The Mumbai Cricket Association on Saturday took disciplinary
MCA TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST UMPIRES
The MCA will take action against umpires who wrongfully put restrictions on the number of overs a bowler can bowl during the Harris Shield.
The incident occurred during Al Barkaat’s elite Group A match against IES New English, Bandra. Before the start of the match, umpires had informed both the captains at the toss that a bowler can bowl only 20 overs. Al Baarkat complained to the MSSA which in turn referred to the MCA.