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What's the story?
Kolkata giants East Bengal have confirmed the signing Ugandan international Khalid Aucho for the remaining four matches of the season and if reports are believed to be true it was Mahmoud Al-Amna who advised the management to recruit the African player.
The win against Minerva Punjab FC on Tuesday afternoon took the Red and Gold brigade an inch closer to their title dreams when Cavin Lobo’s wonderful strike helped them bag full points from the tough away fixture.
In case you didn't know...
East Bengal is on the hunt of their maiden I-League title and is still a strong contender this season. After a shaky start to the season, they have been performing well constantly in the latter part of the league. A couple of wins against Indian Arrows and table toppers Minerva Punjab FC have put them right back in the title race.
The heart of the matter
The club was in talks with Ugandan midfielder Khalid Aucho since the last few days and it has been learned that the foreigner is all set to set foot in the ‘City of Joy’ on Thursday. The 24-year-old started his professional career in 2009, since then he has played for many clubs across the continent.
The Kolkata giant has had problems with their foreigners this season. Apart from Amna and Katsumi Yusa, the others haven’t performed as per expectations. Bazie Armand was released by the club a few days ago as well as Brazilian forward Charles De Souza.
What's next?
East Bengal still has a total of four matches left in the I-League out of which two are home fixtures. Winning all the matches will enhance their chances of lifting the title providing Minerva Punjab FC lose points in their fixtures. The Khalid Jamil-led team is scheduled to play against Gokulam FC on February 17th followed by a home fixture with Chennai City on the 24th later this month.
Author's take
Khalid Jamil was under the scanner many times during the ongoing season, but he has proved his worth. East Bengal is sitting in a comfortable position and a slip from Minerva Punjab FC will definitely brighten their chances. In such a scenario, bringing in new blood in the form of Aucho might just act as the catalyst that they need.
