AFC Cup 2018: "Still remember Bikash Panji's and Krishnanu Dey's Partnership for India and East Bengal," says Dhaka Abahani Coach Saiful Titu 

Aizawl FC host Bangladesh Premier League Champions Dhaka Abahani Limited in their third AFC CUP group game in Guwahati tomorrow, both the teams' managers spoke to the media before the Group E encounter in Guwahati.

“I remember Bikash Panji's goal very clearly against Dhaka Abahani for East Bengal in the ACC tournament in 1991, I also remember the goal he scored against Bangladesh in the SAFF games in Dhaka in 1985. His partnership with Krishnanu Dey is something I and a lot of people in Bangladesh still remember and talk off,” Saiful Titu got a bit nostalgic talking about Indian legends Bikash Panji and Krishnanu Dey ahead of the game tomorrow.

He was referring to the goal Bikash Panji scored in the Salt Lake stadium against Dhaka in the 1991 Asian Champions Cup tournament when Bikash ran through the right wing and finished off a brilliant solo move. The goal is still considered to be one of the best goals scored by any Indian in an international tournament.

Dhaka Abahani’s coach Saiful Bari Titu sounded positive before his side’s tie against the former I league champions. Saiful also mentioned that given the current scenario of football the level of foreign players playing in Bangladesh and in the I league is almost similar.

“See Sony Norde was in Bangladesh before coming to Mohun Bagan, even Odafa used to play in our country before coming to India these players actually choose to come to India because Indian clubs can offer more money to them, but quality wise there is not much difference in foreign players in the I league and Bangladesh Premier League,” is what Titu added to his statement about foreign players.

Speaking about foreign players he also added that it is for the first time in the club’s history that Dhaka Abahani has signed an Asian quota foreigner for the season. This season they have signed Japanese midfield Seiya Kojima who has experience of playing in the lower leagues of Thailand.

Apart from Seiya the club has Sunday Chizoba who has in the past played in India for Churchill Brothers, Ndukaku Alison and Emeka Darlington who is a legend of sorts in Bangladesh.

The Sky Blue Brigade as they are called will be boosted by the return of Sunday who suspended for the last match, and will also welcome playmaker Emon Mahmud Babu who is returning after an injury lay off. The Dhaka side though will miss the service of their midfielder Sohel Rana who is out injured.

Shahidul Alam Sohel the goalkeeper of the side felt that given the conditions in Guwahati are similar to that of Bangladesh it would not be difficult for his teammates to acclimatise with the conditions and also added that given there is a slight forecast of rain the team is preparing keeping that in mind also.

Titu the Dhaka coach though did mention that Aizawl were a good team and beating ISL champions Chennaiyin FC showed what they are capable of doing. He also heaped praise on Masih Saigani the Afghan defender and Romanian playmaker Andrei Ionescu.

Santosh Kashyap the Aizawl coach spoke highly of his counterparts and said that being Bangladesh national league champions was proof that Dhaka are a good side. “I have watched their game against Bengaluru FC and New Radiant and they lost both the games by small margin, they are good side,” is what Santosh Kashyap had to say about Dhaka Abahani.

Aizawl FC going through their final practice session before the game

Speaking about his own side he admitted that having such a crunch schedule with travelling and having to play 3 games in seven days has had an effect on his players but he has to make do with the limited amount of players that he has at his disposal.

The Aizawl gaffer did mention that his main playmaker Andrei Ionescu has a slight niggle in his muscle and that they were monitoring his situation closely.

Afghan defender Masih Saignai mentioned that it was crucial for players to maintain a proper routine during games especially when the schedule is so compact.