ATK MOHUN BAGAN ANNOUNCES THE SQUAD FOR AFC CUP
14.8.21: ATK Mohun Bagan reached Male today afternoon to participate in the AFC Cup. The ATK Mohun Bagan team management today announced a list of 21 footballers who will play the Group league matches.
ATK MOHUN BAGAN SQUAD: Arindam Bhattacharja, Amrinder Singh, Abhilash Paul, Pritam Kotal, Lenn Rodgigues, Subhasish Bose, Ausotosh Mehta, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Deepak Tangri, Sumit Rathi, Sekh Sahil, Bidyananda Singh, Abhishek Suryabanshi, Kiyan Nasiri, Enjon Singh, Ricky, Sabong, Roy Krishna, Carl Mchugh, David Willams, Hugo Boumous.
HEAD COACH: Antinio Habas Lopas.
The Finnish midfeilder Joni Kauko are not included in the squad. The Spanish coach Antonio Habas rely on the combination between Roy Krishna and David Willams.
ATK Mohun Bagan will play the first match against the winners of Bengaluru FC and Eagles at the National stadium at Male.
ATK MOHUN BAGAN WILL LEAVE FOR MALE ON SATURDAY
13.8.21: ATK Mohun Bagan will leave for Maldives on Saturday morning to play AFC Cup after a two weeks long close door practice at the practice ground of Yubabharati Kriangan.
Antonio Habas concentrated on physical fitness of the footballers as well as practised passing and positional football. The Spanish coach is satisfied with the condition of the team and are confident to do well at Maldives.
The important footballers of the squad Roy Krishna, Hugo Boumous and Pritam Kotal expressed their views before AFC Cup.
Roy Krishna: "I will play in the AFC Cup for the first time. It is a golden opportunity to establish the club on the map of Asia. I have no idea about the opponent team. However, the clubs of all the countries will be prepared. I am also helpful that our team will do well. Our first goal is to go to the next round. "
Hugo Boumous: "I am thrilled to think that I am going to play an International Tournament wearing the Jersey of a traditional club. I am waiting to play wearing the green-maroon jersey. The first match is very important in any tournament. If we can win, it will be easy to move forward. "
Amrinder Singh: "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."
Pritam Kotal: "I have played AFC Cup twice. Once we have 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 champion."
I WILL ADAPT THE PLAYING STYLE OF ATK MOHUN BAGAN
9.8.21: The Finnish midfeilder Joni Kauko joined the Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan after playing in Euro Cup.
In an interview with ATK Mohun Bagan media Joni Kauko said he had many options but he wanted something different at this moment in his career so, at the end, ATKMB was an easy decision and also the road he wanted to try. He have never been to India before, and that’s one of the reason why he is here now. Kauko had no idea where he is going but now he is really happy to see that everyone is accepting him well here.
Joni Kauko was impreseed by Antonio Habas's coaching and his team. He added, " We have been training hard for a while now, which is a good thing and I hope I will adapt well to his playing style. I can see his passion for football and that’s always a thing that I respect. I haven’t seen any of the other teams but I believe we have a very strong squad. Good mix of different types of players who can bring a lot of quality on the pitch."
Joni Kauko has the experience of playing in Euro Cup and now he is getting ready for the AFC Cup. While answering he said, Of course, when you play in big tournaments at high level, it will help you to bring along some of that experience and I hope I am able to help the whole group with the experience that I have."
The Finnish midfeilder was in the first match against Denmark in the Euro Cup. He saw Cristian Erikson, suffered an heart attack inside the playing arena. But he is now glad to see Erikson has recovered.
AFC CUP 2021 - GROUP-D FIXTURE
14.05.2021 : ATK Mohun Bagan VS Winner - Play-off South Zone Asia (BENGALURU FC VS Tribhuwan Army FC, Nepal )
14.05.2021 : Bashundhara Kings - Bangladesh VS Maziya FC - Maldives
17.05.2021 : Winner - Play-off South Zone Asia (BENGALURU FC VS Tribhuwan Army FC, Nepal ) VS Bashundhara Kings - Bangladesh
17.05.2021 : Maziya FC - Maldives VS ATK Mohun Bagan
20.05.2021 : ATK Mohun Bagan VS Bashundhara Kings - Bangladesh
20.05.2021 : Maziya FC - Maldives VS Winner - Play-off South Zone Asia (BENGALURU FC VS Tribhuwan Army, Nepal )
Bengaluru FC will play against Tribhuwan Army FC - Nepal in the AFC Cup south Zone play-off on 14.04.2021 at 7.30 pm GMC Stadium, Bambolim
