Maldives test for Bagan in qualifier

Mohun Bagan play the second round of the AFC Cup qualifier, away to Club Valencia of Maldives on Tuesday. The return-leg will be held at Rabindra Sarovar stadium here on February 28.

Mohun Bagan, who beat Colombo FC in the first round of the qualifiers 4-2 on aggregate, have rested six players for this tie. Coach Sanjoy Sen too hasn’t travelled.

“There are no big or small players in Mohun Bagan. The players who are here are good enough to be in the first team and we will try to win tomorrow,” said assistant-coach Shankarlal Chakraborty at the official media conference in Male on Monday.

“We had a meeting with our players because Mohun Bagan will be playing on three fronts: the I-League, AFC Cup and the Federation Cup. The players have said they want to win all three,” said Chakraborty in Maldives.

Haiti international Sony Norde is among those who haven’t travelled for this tie. The others are: goalkeeper Debjit Majumder, right-back Pritam Kotal, central midfielders Pronay Halder and Souvik Chakraborty and striker Jeje Lalpekhlua. Club Valencia won the Maldives’ FA Cup last season which gave them the right to play in the qualifiers.

However, they finished sixth among eight teams in the league last term. They have three Nigerians who are key players for the team.

MOHUN BAGAN, WHO BEAT COLOMBO FC IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE QUALIFIERS 42 ON AGGREGATE, HAVE RESTED SIX PLAYERS