Mohammedan Sporting Club are set to open their 2016/17 Calcutta Premier Division – A campaign against Army XI at the Mohammedan Sporting Club Ground on Friday.

Mohammedan SC are heading into the game on the back of six weeks of pre-season training, started from June 20, 2016. During the preparatory period both teams have played a couple of pre-season friendlies in between and both won a game each.

However, the game agianst a formidable Army XI side won’t be an easy one and Head Coach Mridul Banerjee wants his side to be cautious.

Speaking ahead of the clash, coach Banerjee said, “The first match is always very difficult, and it is always very important to start any tournament with a victory as it will set the tone for the entire campaign. We have been working hard during the pre-season and hope to come up with a good performance against Army XI.”

For the record, Mohammedan Sporting have never beaten Army XI in a competitive match. While Army XI won three out of their four previous encounters one ended scoreless. At their most recent meeting in Kalinga Cup semi-final at Cuttack in May, Army XI got the better of Mohammedan SC 5-4 via sudden-death.

“It’s a new look side this year. A lot of players will be playing in Kolkata for the very first time. We are positive but will take it match by match,” coach Banerjee added.

Facing Army XI, the Black Panthers will be relying heavily on Leonce Dodoz and Manvir Singh upfront. Mumtaz Akhtar, Dipankar Das, Dipendu Dowary and Sheikh Faiaz will share the responsibilitiy of supplying balls from midfield. Skipper Rana Gharami will pair Lancine Toure in the centre of defence while Nitesh Chhikara and Kamran Farooque are expected to operate as the wing-backs with Vinay Singh under the bar.

The match at Mohammedan Sporting Ground kicks off at 15.30 IST tomorrow and it will be telecasted live on ETV News Bangla.

(Mohammedan Sporting Club Press Release)