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Mohammedan Sporting begin pre-season training for CFL

Mohammedan Sporting Club training session (Photo courtesy: Mohammedan Sporting Club)

Mohammedan Sporting Club have started their pre-season training for the forthcoming Calcutta Football League at Mohammedan Sporting Ground in Kolkata on Friday.

The session began with an introductory period between the players, coaching staff and club officials, followed by some physical drills under the watchful eyes of newly appointed head coach Biswajit Bhattacharya, to evaluate fitness levels of players before starting full fledged training.

“I want to thank the club management for the opportunity they are giving me. Now I have only one way for returning their trust; squeeze all my energies to getting the best results for the team,” coach Bhattacharya told mohammedansportingindia.com after team’s first training session of the 2017/18 season.

A total of 32 players attended the session. However, a few among them are on trial, including two foreigners in John Nnannah and Shyla Suleman.

The club management has largely kept faith with the squad that became runners-up in the Calcutta Football League last season and boosted with some new additions, while few more are in advanced talks with the club.

“We have a bunch of players who are technically good and that is our strength. But personally I feel a lot of work needs to be done. I want to see the right intensity from players. They have to take responsibility and there has to be respect for each other. I believe that if we work together as a unit then this team can achieve success.” coach Bhattacharya added.

Apart from coach Bhattacharya, former India goalkeeper Partha Chakraborty has also joined the backroom staff as the goalkeeper coach.

Mohammedan Sporting Club Hony. General Secretary Jb. Ghazal uz Zafar said, “We have some exciting talent added to the team this year. Our performance in the last season will serve as a huge motivation for the entire team to repeat and take it a step further.”

The Black Panthers have already issued a statement of intent by signing 2016/17 I-League’s top scorer Aser Pierrick Dipanda and highly rated central defender Richard Agwu Somtochukwu.

The training session was watched by a sizable crowd of Mohammedan SC supporters, who had come in numbers to watch their favorite team in training.

(Mohammedan Sporting Club)