EB, Mohun Bagan start favourites in IFA Shield
29 Jan 2014 5:38 AM IST
United Sikkim FC will face S-League side Geylang International in the second match of the day as the 118-year-old tournament this year will lack sheen without top I-League clubs who have preferred to skip the Shield for the top tier league.
In such a scenario, the three foreign clubs, the other being Sheikh Jamal Dhanmodi Club of Bangladesh, will be in the spotlight among the four city I-League clubs and second division side United Sikkim FC.
For East Bengal, who narrowly missed the semifinal cut in the just concluded Federation Cup in Kerala, the Shield will give the perfect setting before getting into the final phase of the I-League.
The Armando Colaco-coached side looked a little rusty after their local league win as they lost to arch rivals Mohun Bagan in the concluding match before slipping in the Federation Cup.
But skipper and inspirational play maker Mehtab Hossain is expected to return from an injury lay-off that will give the team a huge boost even as the team has injury woes of defender Uga Okpara.
A side in the National League which is a tier below K-League, Busan SunMoon comprise players in the 21-25 age group and do not have any foreigner on their roster. For the Busan side it’s off season as they are here to prove a point in India.
“India is a fast-growing footballing nation and the IFA Shield is one of the oldest tournaments in the world. So, there is a lot of prestige involved in winning it,” general manager of the club Lee Hyung-IL said.
Meanwhile, for United it will be problems aplenty as they would be without their coach Eelco Schattorie who quit following a frustrated stint with the side which is struggling to put things together without a sponsor.This will be the first time in five years that a Bangladeshi club will participate.
In such a scenario, the three foreign clubs, the other being Sheikh Jamal Dhanmodi Club of Bangladesh, will be in the spotlight among the four city I-League clubs and second division side United Sikkim FC.
For East Bengal, who narrowly missed the semifinal cut in the just concluded Federation Cup in Kerala, the Shield will give the perfect setting before getting into the final phase of the I-League.
The Armando Colaco-coached side looked a little rusty after their local league win as they lost to arch rivals Mohun Bagan in the concluding match before slipping in the Federation Cup.
But skipper and inspirational play maker Mehtab Hossain is expected to return from an injury lay-off that will give the team a huge boost even as the team has injury woes of defender Uga Okpara.
A side in the National League which is a tier below K-League, Busan SunMoon comprise players in the 21-25 age group and do not have any foreigner on their roster. For the Busan side it’s off season as they are here to prove a point in India.
“India is a fast-growing footballing nation and the IFA Shield is one of the oldest tournaments in the world. So, there is a lot of prestige involved in winning it,” general manager of the club Lee Hyung-IL said.
Meanwhile, for United it will be problems aplenty as they would be without their coach Eelco Schattorie who quit following a frustrated stint with the side which is struggling to put things together without a sponsor.This will be the first time in five years that a Bangladeshi club will participate.
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