‘Will miss BFC’s rivalry with Bagan in ISL’
India football captain Sunil Chhetri has lamented at the prospect of missing his club Bengaluru FC’s rivalry with Mohun Bagan, the two most formidable teams in the I-league for the past few seasons.
Bengaluru are one of the new teams of the fourth edition of the Indian Super League, while Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will continue to play in the I-League as the two tournaments will be held simultaneously in 2017-18 season.
“I will miss them (Mohun Bagan). I’m not trying to hint at anything but I loved our games against Mohun Bagan. In last three years the rivalry between Mohun Bagan and BFC is the best thing that has happened,” the striker said on Saturday.
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal were adamant on their demands to play in the ISL. But talks did with the All India Football Federation fell. Tata and Bengaluru were then unveiled as the new ISL franchises. But Chhetri hoped the two Kolkata giants will play in the ISL soon.
“It has been a really equal battle. All the games that I can think of were really tough. Be it in the AFC Cup, I-League or Federation Cup, all the games against Mohun Bagan were tough. We had a great rivalry. I just hope we meet soon,” he said.
Chhetri, however, saw a silver lining in both the leagues being held together as it will give Indians more opportunity.
“The good part is there will be 20 teams playing at the same time, so more players will get opportunity, especially the Indians. Last year when the two leagues happened differently the same set of players played in the ISL and I-League. Now more Indian players will get opportunity. I want both the leagues to flourish as you want more Indians to come in. Some players were not employed last year. It might not happen this time with 20 teams playing simultaneously,” he added.