Excellent training facilities to say the least, this is the basic difference between HAL, Bangalore, where I spent my last 2 years and Mohun Bangan. Moreover, the ground conditions, the backup staffs, the huge fan base just makes things more exciting. It has been splendid going so far, just getting geared for attending the pre-season camp at Siliguri, North Bengal. I’m damn excited! We’ll leave for Siliguri on Sunday, August 15.

Being asked about the equation between the other Bangalore connection, that is the Mohun Bagan’s coach Stanley, Sathish sounded very rational, “There is no such leeway for hailing from the same city, nice thing is that that he treats everyone equal. Even though I commit any mistake, there is no such pressure. There is always a way to rectify mistakes, coach gives that much needed breathing space.”

Satish jr. is staying in the Mohun Bagan mess at the busy Elliot road and shares the space between captain Ishfaq, Manish Maithani, and other newcomers Jacken Sebastian and Dhanrajan.

Jose Barreto arrived in town quietly to play yet another season for the Mariners. After arriving at Dum Dum Airport he told reporters, “I am confident that with Murithala joining our squad, we will be able to score more goals. I have played alongside Chidi and now Muritala will be joining us. I am hopeful that Mohun Bagan will do well this season.” Barreto was looking very happy about this year’s team and specially about Muritala Ali, the new recruitment from Mahindra.

He will not practice with the ball yet, he will do only physical training for the first two weeks, Though he did some physical training in Brazil. He said, "After a tough season, your body needs adequate rest. Having got that I am raring to go. It’s not that I have only enjoyed my holiday in Brazil, I have also done some physical training for the past few weeks. I am feeling fitter than ever before. I would be straightaway hitting the gym."

From Tuesday Mohun Bagan team will practice for two sessions. In the mornings the team will have swimming pool sessions at Howrah, then in the afternoons field practice.

Meanwhile Coach Stanley Rozario returned from visiting Kanchen Jungha Stadium at Siliguri. He is eager for a residential camp there and he is happy to see the facilities at Kanchen Jungha Stadium. He wants to hold the camp for a minimum of 15 days. However, he pushed it to the court of officials for the ultimate decision.

Picture Courtesy : Aajkaal

A pair of goals by Ishfaq Ahmed and Santosh Oraon in the second half brought victory for Mohun Bagan against a Challengers-XI. The challengers XI was mostly made up of the contestants of a private TV channel’s football based reality show. Former Bagan player Dipendu Biswas also played for them. The team’s coach is former Brazilian World Cupper Branco, and the mentor of the team is Diego Forlan, the Golden Ball winner of 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Uruguayan star was present in the field and a jam packed Yuba Bharati Krirangan saw the hero of their dreams, the best player of the world Diego Forlan in front of them.

The Mohun Bagan team was not really in shape to play a competitive match because a lot of their players are in the Santosh Trophy squad and also in the National Camp. Only 14 players are now practicing, with even the foreigners yet to join the squad, though Muritala Ali has reached Kolkata. In the presence of such World stars like Diego Forlan and Branco, the match was a prestige one for Mohun Bagan. Mohun Bagan won the match 2-0. Ishfaq Ahmed scored a goal in the 38th minute and the second  goal scored by new comer Santosh Oraon in the 70th minute. There were a lot of easy chances missed by Ashim Biswas and Ishfaq Ahmed, though Bagan won the match comfortably.

Mohun Bagan President Tutu Bose and Finance Secretary Debasish Dutta presented a Green and Maroon scarf and a model of a sailing boat, the club emblem, to Diego Forlan.

Picture Courtesy : Sangbad Pratidin