Bagan to form team and play
in Asian Club C'ship

Capping a week of high drama and uncertainty over team formation for the coming season, National Football League champions Mohun Bagan announced its decision to constitute a squad and participate in the Asian Club Championship.

In a show of unity, club secretary Anjan Mitra, flanked by his team of executive members, told a press conference in Kolkata on Friday that the decision was a moral obligation to the club's millions of fans.

"The decision is made taking into consideration the sentiments of our supporters. If you consider it as a defeat before our adversaries we have nothing to say," he said.

The executive committee of the club met last week and decided not to form a team or participate in any domestic and international tournaments until all the four cases pending against the club are withdrawn.

Mitra said he had spoken to All India Football Federation secretary Alberto Colaso and confirmed the club's participation in the Asian Championship.

The last date for confirming participation with the Asian Football Confederation is May 6. The championship kicks off in June.

Mitra also appointed club member Debashis Dutta as football convener, in charge of formation of the team for the coming session.

Dutta said, as a result of starting late this season, he will have a tough time recruiting good players as rival clubs East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting had already netted some good players from local clubs as well as outstation.

Though Mitra put up a bold front and said he is ready for any eventuality if the court proceedings continue, the fissures in the club appear bigger then ever as officials scamper around to find the right mix to form a team with a reduced budget from their sponsors.

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