In FC Nasaf, they face a side that has previously won the AFC Cup. FC Nasaf were the runners-up from last season’s Uzbekistan Super League.  The side has maintained a dominant form in the domestic league, which began early in March 2021.

FC NASAF:

FC Nasaf are the potential favourites to win this tie. They have higher experience of excelling in the knockout rounds and have won the competition beforehand.

They are coming onto this match having played 19 games in the Uzbekistan Super League, being placed at the fifth position amongst the 14 teams.

They won the AFC Cup Group Stage fixtures by scoring the highest (12 goals) in the three group games conceding none. As per reports, the side has no injury concerns.

ATK MOHUN BAGAN SQUAD

The big blow for ATK Mohun Bagan is the injury of Hugo Boumous, who is sidelined for the game. Boumous will likely be replaced by Finnish midfielder Joni Kauko, who is set to debut for the Kolkata-based outfit.

Looking at the stakes, it will be imprudent to think that Kauko can fill the shoes of Boumous, who has been an exceptional contributor for this side. The defence should remain unchanged, with Sumit Rathi and Pritam Kotal forming an allegiance with Carl McHugh. Kauko will be accompanied by the likes of Deepak Tangri, Subhasish Bose, and Lenny Rodrigues. Roy Krishna and David Williams will spearhead the attack alongside Manvir Singh and Liston Colaco on the flanks.

When to watch – 20:30 IST on September 22, 2021

Venue – Markaziy Stadium, Uzbekistan

Where to Watch – Star Sports Network and streamed live on Hotstar, Jio TV

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In the afternoon, Roy Krishna and others practiced at the grass field of a local stadium. The Spanish coach insisted on physical training and positional football as there was no provision or opportunity for closed-door practice. He showed no secret weapons which were done in Dubai. The players returned to the hotel after an hour of practice. The Green Maroon brigade will practice in the evening at the main stadium on Tuesday. Habas is happy with the environment and the cold weather. Habas spoke to ATKMB Media after training at the hotel in Qarshi. What he said..

Q: How optimistic are you to defeat FC Nasaf after eight days of practice in Dubai and two days in Uzbekistan?

Habas: No coach in the world can guarantee ‘victory’. Our preparation in Dubai has been quite good. We are optimistic about winning. We also have in our mind that our opponent is a strong team but we have the power to defeat Nasaf.

Q: Where do you think Nasaf is stronger?

Habas: They perform well in competitive tournaments. They are quite strong as a competitor. Like us, they have footballers who can change the colour of the match in no time.

Q: Is wing play a big factor in this match?

Habas: Not just wing play, but many factors are there. We have to try to open the mouth of the goal by creating space for the defense of the opponent. For that, we will do everything that needs to be done.

Q: This match is considered by the Green-Maroon fans as a historic match for Mohun Bagan. What is the message for them?

Habas: We will give our one hundred percent and try to bring promising results.

Q: Has Kauko, Prabir, Soosairaj joined to make the team stronger than the group league? Will the weather in Uzbekistan give Kauko an extra advantage to play?

Habas: Footballers have to be ready to give their best in any environment. Kauko has already adapted himself to the team. He is a great footballer. Prabir and Soosairaj are both very important footballers. They are also ready. I have not yet decided how long I will keep them on the field. The reason being that they have not been in a competitive match for a long time. I have to choose the first XI considering all the aspects.

(Courtesy: ATKMB Media Team)

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ATK Mohun Bagan have it all to play for in their final matchday of the group, against Bangladeshi outfit Bashundhara Kings, a match that kicks off at 4.30 PM IST. They have been perfect so far in their two games, earning six points, with five goals scored, and just a single goal conceded. The Mariners started their AFC Cup campaign against Bengaluru FC with a triumph. They repeated the same against Maziya Sports & Recreation as well, turning up the heat in the second half to defeat the side from the Maldives 3-1.

Going into their match against Bashundhara Kings, anything except a loss will guarantee ATKMB top spot in the group. While ATKMB’s striker Roy Krishna has been on fine form, scoring a goal each in both the matches, the Green and Maroons’ Indian contingent has kept up the pressure on their opposition, with Subhasish Bose, Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh also finding the net once each.

In the other match of the evening, Bengaluru FC will be playing for pride, as they square up against Maziya Sports & Recreation at 9.30 PM IST. The Blues currently stand on the third spot in Group D, with a solitary point to their name, which came from a stalemate against Bashundhara Kings. As only the top team qualifies for the Inter-Zone Playoff Semi-final, the side from the Karnataka capital cannot mathematically topple ATK Mohun Bagan, effectively ruling them out of the knockout stages.

The match between ATK Mohun Bagan and Bashundhara Kings will start at 4.30 pm IST, while Bengaluru FC’s game against Maziya Sports & Recreation kicks-off at 9.30 pm IST. Both the matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Bangla and streamed live on Disney + Hotstar VIP and Jio TV.

CREDITS- AIFF MEDIA

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The first match of the competition was contrasting for both teams to say the least. For ATK Mohun Bagan, it was the perfect outing. Roy Krishna opened the scoring for them in the tournament as Subhasish Bose provided the assist in the first half. And within the opening minute of the second half, provider turned into goalscorer as Bose put the ball in the back of the net and put the match firmly in ATKMB’s control.

Hugo Boumous also showed his class in midfield for ATKMB, dribbling past players with ease and finding long-range passes to cut open the opposition defence. In the match against Maziya Sports & Recreation, the Green and Maroons will be looking to secure another win and take another step closer to qualifying for the knockout rounds.

Coming to Bengaluru FC, they still have a lot of work to do if they want to qualify for the next round. Bengaluru did create a few chances in their last match, but they would look to finish them against the Bangladeshi outfit.

The attacking burden will mainly fall on the shoulders of Captain Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh and Jayesh Rane, while the defence will need to protect Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s goal a lot more. Bashundhara Kings won their first match of the AFC Cup against Maziya comfortably, and will look to repeat the same feat against the Blues.

An exciting day awaits us on August 21. Bengaluru FC vs Bashundhara Kings will commence at 4.30 pm IST while ATK Mohun Bagan vs Maziya Sports & Recreation Club will start at 9.30 pm IST. Tune in to Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Bangla, Disney + Hotstar VIP and Jio TV to watch these matches live.

CREDITS- AIFF MEDIA

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“Since I made my national team debut with this new batch, we had the AFC Asian Cup, the great run where we didn’t lose in 14-15 matches, we saw the U-17 boys doing great and women’s football in India is doing fantastic. Overall, any neutral can see that the growth is there in Indian football. It’s a steady process. We are on the right track and improving every day.”

“The growth in the national teams is there to see at all levels — by ranking and the way we are playing at all levels — from the men’s team, women’s national team, our junior boys and girls teams. We are improving really well and I am really happy about that.”

Talking about his move to Croatia, the Arjuna Awardee from last year mentioned the importance of having a personal desire to move abroad and explained how he hopes it will improve him as a player as well as a person.

“My playing in Europe helps a lot but it also comes down to having a personal desire. Everyone must do what they feel is best for their careers and if you have the desire to be in Europe as a player or any other desire, then you should follow it. You dream big and work more and harder than the dream itself.

“I am happy I am here. It’s a tough and strong league and playing here will challenge me to my limits and help me improve as a player and as a human being. I just want to perform at my optimum level and focus on the process. It will be challenging but I trust myself and my work ethic.”

“With that, I will come back to the national team and fight for my place there. If I feel I have improved more, then I will play better for the national team too and the team will also look good because one of their players is playing better.”

Sandesh, who spent six seasons in the Hero Indian Super League with Kerala Blasters — winning the Emerging Player of the League award in 2014 as well as the AIFF Emerging Player of the Year award. In 2020, he moved to ATK Mohun Bagan and enjoyed a splendid season for club and country, and was named the AIFF Player of the Year as well in July.

He spoke about the impact of the Hero ISL on his career, terming it as a “blessing”.

“The Hero ISL has been a blessing for me and I am sure that many other players will agree with me. As kids, we watched other European leagues and we used to think that the players we see on television are from a different planet. Through the Hero ISL, we got a lot of exposure and it opened my view.”

“We got to play against a huge list of top players and when we faced them, we realized that they are not untouchable if you work hard and remained disciplined. I am happy that the league started at the right age for me and I will always be thankful to the Hero ISL. It taught me to be a better player,” he explained.

With his move to Croatia now complete and him having started training with his new club, Sandesh talked about his experience in the country so far and expressed his desire to keep pushing his limits and achieve his potential.

“The experience here (in Croatia) has been really good so far. I had spoken to the head coach before as well when I was in India and had an idea about how the staff is and the football the team plays. It’s a beautiful city with the sea nearby. The team’s staff is very nice to me, the training pitches are great and the players are very nice to me. They want me to adapt and do well. I really like how they have invested in youth and have a number of homegrown players in the squad. It’s fantastic and I am looking forward to the challenge ahead,” he averred.

“I have always been someone who likes to be outside his comfort zone. I strongly believe the moment you start feeling comfortable, you need to step up. As a small boy, I had this thing in my mind and always believed that sky’s the limit for me. I am just a kid from Chandigarh who dreams big and runs after it. I believe in working hard for it, having the faith and belief, being disciplined and making sacrifices to achieve my full potential as a human and footballer.”

CREDITS- AIFF MEDIA

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The first goal came in the 39th minute through Roy Krishna as Hugo Boumous’ corner kick was headed towards goal by Subhasish and Krishna was on hand to flick the ball past the keeper from close range and fire his team into the lead.

Subhasish, who is celebrating his birthday as well today, added his name to the scoresheet in the first minute of the second half as he collected a low cross from the left from David Williams, spun inside the box and fired in a cracking finish into the bottom corner to double the Mariners’ advantage.

In their next fixtures, Bengaluru FC will take on Bangladeshi side Bashundhara Kings and ATK Mohun Bagan will face Maldivian outfit Maziya Sports & Recreation. Both matches will take place on Saturday (August 21, 2021) at the National Football Stadium in Male.

The team finishing on top of the group at the end of three rounds will proceed to the single-leg Inter-Zone Semi-final. A number of Indian players from both Indian clubs are scheduled to join the ongoing national team camp in Kolkata once the AFC Cup action in Group D concludes.

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On the eve of their opening match of Group D, which is the South Asian Group in the AFC Cup, both the coaches took a cautious tone, giving ample respect to their opposition teams.

ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Antonio Lopez Habas said, “Bengaluru have signed a number of new foreign footballers. The coaching staff has also changed. As a result, there has been a difference regarding the strength. The match will be very tough. The biggest thing is that we know each other and have played a lot of matches. If we want to win, we have to fight till the last minute.”

‘‘The results of the past matches will remain history. In reality, every match is a new challenge. It is a new environment, a new field. We have to adapt quickly. The fate of the match will depend a lot on all this. Most of all, it’s an international tournament. Everyone will desperately try to establish themselves,” Habas commented ahead of the match.

Marco Pezzaiuoli expects an ‘aggressive’ game against ATK Mohun Bagan and said, “Our last game was only two days ago, so it was a short recovery for the team. It’s not really an advantage, but I can see the glass either as half empty or half full, and I choose to see it half full. There was a good spirit and positive energy in the team after the win. We are happy to be in the Group Stage of this competition. This is a new game, a new start and we have a renewed focus. We need to be very sharp against ATK Mohun Bagan, because I am expecting an aggressive game’’

“ATK Mohun Bagan like to play a lot of long passes, go for the second ball and press high up on the pitch, which calls for a different approach from us. But they have also changed things in the summer, by bringing in a French foreigner (Hugo Boumous), among other players. This shows that they want to win the Indian Super League and the AFC Cup. We have to be in good spirit, show good focus and I am certain that we have a chance of winning tomorrow,” Pezzaiuoli added.

ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC have been clubbed together with Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh) and Maziya Sports and Recreation Club in Group D. The team that finishes on top of the group will make it to the Inter-Zone Playoff Semifinal against winner of the Central Asian Zone Final.

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Apart from emphasizing on the physical fitness of Roy Krishna, Pritam Kotal and Amarinder Singh, the Spanish coach has also practiced positional football, passing and penalty kicking. There have been some new practices every day.

Though late, David Williams has also joined the team. He felt satisfied after testing David’s physical ability on the field.

Habas said “David has practiced well. I told the footballers that we are going to play in an international tournament. You have to work hard, you have to give your best.”

Like the coach, footballers are also mentally prepared. ATKMB and Senior National Team forward Manvir Singh said, “I have scored goals for the country in the international tournaments, but I’ve never played in the AFC Cup. I will play wearing the green-maroon jersey. It is a different feeling. We have to win, though I am not thinking of becoming the champion now. The goal is to reach the next round. ”

New signing, and Blue Tigers goalkeeper Amarinder Singh said, “I have played twice in the AFC Cup in another club’s jersey. We have been runners-up once. This time we are going to Maldives to become the champion. The way we have prepared and as we have a strong team, we have a chance to become champions.”

Defender Pritam Kotal stated, “I have played in the AFC Cup twice. Once we even reached the second round. This time our club is stronger. We have seven footballers from the national team. The best foreigners are in the team. We will play to become the champion. ”

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After his season-long ACL injury, Sandesh has come a long way and proved himself that he is one of the best defenders in Asia after he recently won the Indian Footballer of the year award. He also won the Emerging Player of the year award back in 2014.

The 28-year-old will leave ATK Mohun Bagan after a year’s stint, where he has been fantastic the entire season, and that’s what likely caught European eyes on him! He had Europe in his sights for the past two years, but his ACL injury and the pandemic restricted his move.

This year Jhingan is finally at the doorstep to make a move to Croatian club HNK Sibenik, in spite of interests from clubs in Greece and Austria. HNK Sibenik competes in the top division in Croatia, where they finished 6^th last season and won the league in 2019. “We have an agreement in place with HNK Sibenik. All efforts are now on to get him to Croatia as soon as possible,” Sandesh’s representative, Anuj Kichlu from the Madrid-headquartered Best Of You Sports, told TOI on Monday.”

“There were several offers for Sandesh last year, but with Covid-19 restrictions, it became very difficult, said Kichlu. “This year, there were four different clubs who reached out to us. After considering the different types of leagues and offers, HNK Sibenik looked like the best fit for Sandesh. Croatia, after all, are World Cup finalists, and the league has grown a lot in the last few years.”

The Indian wall still has a five-year contract with ATKMB, but that contract has clauses that allow him to leave if a foreign club comes calling. His move to Europe can be great news for India, as then the world can see that Indian players are capable of competing at the highest level!

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Boumous, who was named Hero of the League for the 2019-20 season of the Indian Super League (ISL), has signed a five-year contract with the Green and Maroons which will keep him at the club until 2026.

There’s a lot that ATK Mohun Bagan fans can expect from Boumous, one would see the ballerina footwork, the laser-guided through balls, the finishes from every angle imaginable. A midfielder does not simply score 19 goals and provide 24 assists in just two seasons without kick-starting a whole new fandom in India.

Head coach Antonio Lopes Habas identifies Boumous as someone who will add high value to the team with his decision-making and superior technical abilities.

“Hugo is a player with extremely good individual technique, he is fast, and most importantly, has high technical speed which sets him apart,” Habas told ATKMB social media team when asked about the new signing.

“At the same time, Hugo has a very dynamic style of play, his capacity for counter-attacks, organized attacks and completion of actions, making him a very decisive player.”

The ATKMB social media team also spoke to Boumous on his expectations and ambitions at his new club, following are excerpts:

Q> Firstly, Hugo, welcome to ATK Mohun Bagan. How does it feel being an ATK Mohun Bagan player?

Hugo Boumous: I’m very happy to have penned a deal with the Kolkata giants, the Green and Maroons, ATK Mohun Bagan. It’s a great feeling to be part of the most historic and successful club in India.

My choice has been guided by the lofty ambitions of the club owner Mr. Goenka and I want to contribute to the club’s success in the ISL as well as the AFC competitions in the upcoming years.

Q> You’ve played for FC Goa, Mumbai City, now it’s the turn of the Kolkata giants. How excited are you at the prospect of playing in Green and Maroon?

Hugo Boumous: I am looking forward to playing in the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata, the Mecca of football, in front of our thousands of fans. We will fight for them, for the glory of the City of Joy.

Q> You are known to score goals, lots of them. But it’s not just the goals, it’s the assists as well. Do you get as much of a thrill from an assist as you do a goal?

Hugo Boumous: Assisting or scoring is very important as it’s contributing to the team’s results directly, it can decide whether or not the team can grab points. In fact, it is the most important part of the game. You’re happy when your team wins and if your team scores, you are closer to a win. So I think it’s the same, for me.

Q> At ATK Mohun Bagan what are your dreams and aspirations? What do you want to see this club achieve?

Hugo Boumous: I am someone who is always hungry for success, hungry for trophies. I am aiming for great achievements with ATK Mohun Bagan. I want to help them continue to shine as one of the best teams in India and win all the trophies here. I want to qualify for ACL next season with this team and make a historic run in this competition.

Q> Finally, what is your message to ATKMB fans?

Hugo Boumous: I can’t wait to play in front of all of you, I know it might not be soon given the pandemic situation but I am sure I will be there. Hopefully, you all will enjoy watching the team as we try and do our best to win trophies. Joy Mohun Bagan!

CREDITS- ATK MOHUN BAGAN MEDIA

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