Mohun Bagan’s U-20 team performed badly in the recently concluded U-20 final round, and finished 5th among 6 teams. Pune FC’s Academy boys did well to retain the title for the second consecutive time. Bagan boys performed badly in the final round and one should give serious thinking to have a proper youth development plan to meet the club President’s Vision 2020. The president might retire in few years – but can we expect his team to gear up and deliver something close to his vision? Will the officials at least plan to deliver and bring back the ‘Youth Development’ of the club in right tracks?

The AIFF is planning for a proper youth development and team Mohun Bagan needs to be part of the same. Indeed Mohun Bagan has been delivering well through MBSFA and its tie up with various School academies, Jalpaigury Academy, GOALZ project – but when it comes to club’s own achievements we are falling behind! The resources available must be groomed properly and various consultation are needed at this level to get Youth development into the next level – hope Bagan officials will do the needful to achieve the same.

Mohun Bagan has an excellent set up of the Development centre in MBSFA , durgapur, merely 2 hours travel from Kolkata.  The development centre is aimed at boys aged 15 years and under. MBSFA endeavour to create a fun environment within the boundaries of discipline that allows the boys to demonstrate flair and individualism without fear of criticism, and organise an annual event and a tournament where few other Academies are invited. However,  tight budget does not allow Academy boys to travel abroad and participate in various tournaments abroad or at least at the national level (excepting for iLeague matches)

The Academy definitely carries out regular training to ensure the students are up-to-date with all the processes and  procedures, but the boys really will have to improve upon the technical abilities. The academy boys are expected to join and server the senior team – but excepting a few, the boys fail to meet expectations. Even Rahul , Vasuum, Sankar Oraon, Subhojit, Dipendu, Souvik are not regulars in the playing XI – Manish Bhargav definitely have future but has a long way to go.

The recent team has some promising players but they lack the ability shown by Pune, Sesa or TFA scouts.

Let us look back and see how the U-20 team performed in iLeague final round –

16^th March 2013 – 1-1 vs Salgaokar

18^th March 2013 – 2-0 vs East Bengal

20^th March 2013 – 0-2 vs Pune FC

22^nd March 2013 – 1-2 vs Sesa Football Academy

24^th March 2013 – 2-3 vs Tata Football Academy

One can recall Bagan ended 0-0 with Sesa Football Academy in the Group C match , lost to Shillong Lajong (1-3) beside securing full points against Air India (2-0) and Churchill Brothers (1-0)

 

Bagan indeed is doing well at the regional level but will really have to improve at the national level. The officials will have to ensure more people are involved in the Youth development; the players enjoy the game as well. AIFF has proposed some changes from 2013/14 season and Bagan should plan investing AIFF resources to assist, help and advices and follow recommendations to improve players’ participation and enjoyment as well as minor changes to develop better players.

 

In spite of gifting 2 goals to Pailan Arrows Bagan manager to secure 3 points thanks to early goals scored by Aibor and Tolgay

Mohun bagan will play Pailan Arrows in the next match of iLeague. Here is a quick match preview.

Based upon the situation Pailan Arrows switch between a 3-5-2 strategy to 4-4-2 whenever needed. Shouvik Ghosh is a great prospect for Indian football and is expected to shadow Odafa, with Pritam marking Odafa or Tolgay, if Odafa is unavailable behind Shouvik.

The midfielders tend to remain close to each other and usually go for a counter attack from time to time, and tend to go for a final pass to Alwyn George inside the box.

The players been match fit and can run for 90 mins – and hence should not be taken for granted. however this is a game where Bagan can field Tolgay from the very first minute since Odafa needs some rest. Eche can be rested as well since Pailan does not have a foreigner in the team and Bagan can actually have a 3-5-2 formation with Mehraj, Nirmal and Aibor.

Expected team –

Pailan Arrows –

Soram Angamba, Vishal Kumar, Shouvik Ghosh, Pritam Kotal, Narayan Das / Avinabo Bag ,
Pronay Halder, Dhanpal Ganeshan, Ongnam Milan Singh/ Tirthankar Sarkar, Prabir Das,
Holicharan Narzary, Alwyn George