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Friday, November 30, 2007

Bagan seek devine intervention!

The club officials today along with every team member and the coach paid a visit to Kalighat to pray for a better performance in the rest of the I league. In the past two matches balls have stayed out of the opposition's goal where as balls have got entangled in the Bagan goal more often. Balls hitting the post, defence committing horrible mistakes have made President Sadhan Bose, aka Tutu Bose comment that " I pray to Maa Kali that she forgives of us of any wrong doing, if we have done unknowingly, and may she keep the players free of injury and may the Bagan score goals instead of hitting the post." He also joined, "Maa Kali has never denied Mohun Bagan, and I am sure She will not this time."
The whole team including Bhaichung, Habibur, Venkatesh, Manju every one went except for Barreto who was back at the club ground nursing his injury.
On another development, Bagan in search of the fourth foreigner has contacted a Vasco Da Gama midfielder who is to reach Kolkata shortly.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Viva kerala take sweet revenge!

Viva kerala today took sweet revenge of their ONGC defeat against Mohun Bagan by emerging victorious dumping Bagan 3-1 in Kolkata in their I League tie.
Bagan conceded an early goal owing to some sloppy defending by Bagan backs Douglas, Odafe.
Bagan failed to capitalise on a lot of chances as Lalampuia missed a couple.
The second goal was a howler out of a misunderstanding between Shilton and Odafe.
Ishfaq who came on as a substitute scored the only goal for Bagan in the 73rd minute.
Still lot of chances went Begging for Bagan as Balls hit the post, bar, keeper saving a few.
The third goal came in the 90th minute and Bagan had no way back from there.
Bagan have played 2 matches and lost both.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Bagan aim to set things right!

Tomorrow Mohun Bagan meet Viva Kerala at the Salt Lake Stadium and will give their best to set things right for them after they lost the first match against JCT. Mohun Bagan last met Viva Kerala this season at the Fed Cup where they won 3-1. But this Viva Kerlala side is completely different from the one of Fed Cup because now they have enrolled a few quality foreigners and are determined to put up a good show. Bagan have to put their best foot forward in the absence of their Brazilian ace Barreto who will miss the tie because of an injury.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Bagan stumble against JCT!

Mohun Bagan went down 2-1 in the I league opener against JCT today at Kolkata. The show put up by Bagan seemed like a sad story with a few disjointed episodes. Hope this match works as an eye opener for Perierra and his boys and they realise that I league is a totally different ball game and the standard of football is much higher than the local league. It was evident that Douglas and Odafe are the two blunders signings for Bagan this season. The duo some how carried on in the Kolkata league but their limited capabilty gave way to numerous loop holes in the Bagan defence and midfield.
Perriera moreover made a tacttical mistake by playing an injured Barreto in the 1st half and then bringing on Lalampuia in the second replacing Barreto when he is one goal down.
To add on to this, there were the howler misses from the Bagan striking force.
Lalam hit the side netting from a handshaking distance from the goal, and Venkatesh who was set up with a beautiful ball only could hit the keeper. Barreto also missed a chance in the 1st half.
And to add to the woes of Bagan the JCT goalie was at the top of his game saving at least 2 sure goals.
Bagan conceded a goal in the opening quarter of the match courtesy a wonderful free kick from the JCT man Eduardo. The defence and the midfield seemed to be floundering in darkness with miss passes and erratic play. The first half continued with both the teams getting chances to score.
In the second half also Bagan went all out after a few minutes and the flat footed Bagan defence found it hard to cope up with the young gun Chettri and the Brazilian Eduardo creating gapping immense amount of space for the duo to work, but fortunately for Bagan JCT could only put in one other goal in the entire 2nd half.
In the dying minutes, Odafe headed a strong header only to pull one back.
Team: Shilton, Basfore(Lalkamal), Rauf, Odafe, Maria, Douglas, Venkatesh, James, Dharamjit, Bhaichung, Barreto(Lalam)

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Bagan meet JCT tomorrow! Barreto to play!

Mohun Bagan tomorrow meet JCT Mills in their I league opener in the Salt Lake Stadium. Previously there was a doubt over Barreto's availability in the match due to his injury but today evening he affirmed that though he is not 100% fit, yet he thinks he is good enough to play. He thinks the match will not be easy and have to play real good to earn 3 points.
Even coach Carlos Periera voiced the same about tomorrow's match. " It is our home match so we should play good, but its not going to be easy..." that is what the coach had to say.
Bagan will have to put their best foot forwards against JCT.
The probable team: Shilton, Odafe, Maria, Siddique, Subhashish,Dharamjit, James, Douglas, Venkatesh, Bhaichung, Barreto.

To play or not to play!

Barreto is with a dilemma whether to play in the I league opener against JCT on Monday. He had injured himself during the last match of the CFL against Mohd. Sp. and the coach has left Barreto to decide whether he is fit enough to play or not. Manju, however, is also not available owing to an ankle injury that he has sustained during practice. Thus all in all Bagan might miss the services the Barreto who will rest himself for one match keeping mind the long season up ahead and Manju's possibility has already been ruled out.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Mohun Bagan in search of the fourth foreigner!

According to the new rules of the I league, the federation has sanctioned 4 foreigners for each team and thus both the giants of Kolkata has embarked on their search for the fourth foreigner. Bagan officials have decided to hold Douglas, Odafe and Barreto for the I league. Bagan coach Carlos Alberto Periera has already come in contact with a few brazilian players and have seen their match Cds. But it has been made clear that Bagan wont rush in for the fourth foreigner, "until and unless we get a very very good foreigner" so as to quote the coach.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I league Fixture Declared!

The AIFF has officially released the fixture for the upcoming I league. The AIFF officials feel that “There could be some changes in the draw at the later stages, so clubs have been informed only up to the sixth round. However, the AIFF might release the entire schedule in the next couple of days.”
However, according to thefull fixture, The big derby, Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal has been scheduled for 29th of December!
THE SCHEDULE (TILL SIXTH ROUND)
Nov. 26: Mohun Bagan vs JCT (Calcutta).
Nov. 29: Mohun Bagan vs Viva Kerala (Calcutta)
Dec. 2: Mohun Bagan vs Sporting Clube de Goa (Calcutta)
Dec. 8: Mohun Bagan vs Air India (Calcutta),
Dec. 12: Dempo vs Mohun Bagan (Goa)
Dec. 16: Churchill Brothers vs Mohun Bagan (Goa),

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Lalam and Shilton! The couple that saved Bagan's Day!

Mohun Bagan today ended their CFL 2007 campaign on a wining note, thanks to a wonderful goal from young gun Lalampuia and an excellent penalty save by another young mariner, Shilton Paul. The result of the match would not have any changes to the League as Mohun Bagan had already won the league with one match to spare. And moreover with the I league drawing close, coach Perriera did not field many of his key players. Barreto had started off with Kumaresh Bhawal, who retired today after 15 mins of the game and went off amidst a huge round of applause. He was the captain of Bagan for the day. Lalam was brought in. Bagan kept on the attacks and so did Mohd Sporting at times. However with a goal line save from Douglas and a few mssed opportunities by James and Lalampuia, the first half came to an end. With the beginning of the second half Bagan seemed to play a much better game. Lalamkamal and Dharamjit along with James in the midfield supplied Lalam and Barreto with a few good balls and one such balls was sent in the from the right and found Barreto who tried to stretch an inch too far and injured him. Though it has been known that Barreto's injury is not serious, Barreto was taken off after that incident and Gobin was sent in. On the 88th minute, a Lalkamal pass found Lalampuia after coming off a Mohd. Sporting defender. Lalam did no mistake in slotting the ball home for Bagan. However, in the last minute of the extra time, Mohd. Sporting was awarded a penalty after what seemed a hand ball by a Bagan defender. Kuluthungan stepped up for Mohd. Sp. to take the kick and Shilton came up with a spectacular save to deny the Sporting man and literally Mohun Bagan earned 3 points. Mohun Bagan end the League with 36 points from 14 matches, an astonishing 10 points clear of arch rivals East Bengal who ended up being second with 26 points.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Bagan aim to finish League unbeaten! Kumaresh Bhawal to be Captain of Bagan for tomorrow!

Mohun Bagan tomorrow end their CFL campaign. They play Mohd. Sporting in the Salt Lake Stadium. Bagan is aiming to finish the League in a good note, i.e to finish the League unbeaten. Last time in 2005 when Bagan won the last CFL, they had ended their League on an unbeaten note with only one match draw. But this season Mohun Bagan already have 3 draws under their belt. Tomorrow's match will be a tough one, Mohd Sporting is no push over. Bagan were held goalless in the 1st leg by Mohd. Sporting and Mohd. Sporting has already beaten East Bengal 2-1 in the 2nd leg of the leg after going down 6-2 in the 1st Leg. More over Bagan will miss the services of Manju, Habibur and skipper Bhaichung due to injuries. Barreto will however be playing and will try to retain his status as the highest scorer in the League. He will be accompanied by Kumaresh Bhawal, the honorary signing for Bagan this year. Kumaresh Bhawal will captain Mohun Bagan for this one match he will retire after tomorrow's match. Kumaresh Bhawal has been honoured by Bagan for his involvement in foiling a match fixing in 2005.
Mohun Bagan has started getting ready for the National League which from this year will be called as the "I League" the professional football league of India. Bagan open their I League campaign against JCT Mills in Barasat stadium on the 26th of November.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Mohun Bagan clinch Kolkata League!

Today Mohun Bagan became the Champion of the Calcutta Footbal League 2007, with one match to spare. A near capacity crowd had gathered sensing a Bagan victory, and a Bagan victory it was!
From the beginning Mohun Bagan kept up the pressure. Bagan fielded Bhaichung and Lalam upfront and Barreto playing the role of a playmaker. The half rolled amidst much clamour and after about 25 mins, came the spark of brilliance from Lalampuia, whose side volley found the back of the net! Mohun Bagan still kept attacking and created quite a few chances, but failed to make god use of them.
The second half commenced and Mohun Bagan clearly held the upper hand. Just a few minutes into the 2nd Half, a ball from the right found Lalam who hit the cross-bar.
Again another chance was put to waste by Bhaichung as a free ball was gifted by Barreto, but Bhaichung put it wide.
And a few more mintues later, the winner came for Bagan through Bhaichung himself.
A long ball found Bhaichung and the Peerless keeper and Bhaichung gaining controll of the ball pushed it goal wards.
The Match ended 2-0 and Mohun Bagan win the 2007 CFL. Last time they had wonthis league in 2005.

Bagan meet Peerless today!

Mohun Bagan today face Peerless in their penultimate match of the CFL and will go for victory straight away because a 3 point will Mohun Bagan as the Champion of the 2007 Calcutta Premier League.
Peerless will be a tough opponent as they have proved before. In the 1st Leg Peerless in their match against East Bengal had gone 2-0 up, but thanks to some partial refereeing decisions which saw the game abandoned. Even against Mohun Bagan, Peerless after going down 2-0, came back sharply to draw level, but Venkatesh put in the last minute winner to clinch valuable 3 points for Bagan.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Bagan match postponed, I league in sight

With just one match to win the CFL, Bagan's CFL matches against Peerless and Mohd. SP. were postponed owing to All Bengal Strike. Today Bagan was scheduled to play their League winner against Peerless, but following a Mamta Banerjee strike, Bagan's match has been scheduled for Wednesday, the 14th of November.
The I League, which is the new name for the Indian proffessional League, starts off from the last week of November and Bagan meet JCT on the 26th of November in Kolkata.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Diwali comes early in Bagan!

Today Mohun Bagan defeated East Bengal continuously for the 6th time in the Kolkata League. Bagan emerged victorious ridding a brace, courtesy Barreto and some excellent goal keeping from Shilton Paul.
The match kicked off with both the teams attacking each other. As the match rolled on in the 1st half, it more or less turned out to be who had a better midfield. East Bengal were playing a compact defence with Surkumar, Suresh, Bolajai and Debrata. In stark contrast, Bagan fielded a completely new set of players at the defence, Shubhasish, Manju, Maria, Habibur.
For Manju it was his first match for Bagan and first big match after the Nehru cup final. Maria came came into the team just a match back, and both Habibur and Subhashis were not regulars for the past matches.
Shilton pulled of a stunner from the feet of a colorless Edmilson, which could have "goal" written all over it. Both Manju and Subhashis took time to settle down and Douglas found it hard to cope up with the pace of the game and ended up committing needless foul on a number of occasions.
The half ended on even ground, both the teams putting in their best.
Soon after the beginning of the second half, the stadium erupted in joy as Barreto, from a long pass from Dharamjit, wrestled his way past Suresh and placed a wonderfully placed left footer past the goalie, who spread himself across the goal in vane!
Quite surprisingly after the goal, Bagan stepped on the gas and presented a much improved performance and stringed together some beautiful passes to create a number of chances.
Midway in the half, Shilton came up with another stunner off a side volley from Edmilson. A sure goal, was punched out by a flying Shilton who bended back to keep the ball off goal.
Mohun Bagan kept on the pressure and on the 92nd minute, Bhaichung was presented with a ball from Barreto. Bahichung found himself free and running towards the goal in full stream. 1:1 with the keeper, Subrata Paul pounced on Bhaichung pulling him to ground inside the penalty box, an inevitable penalty and Barreto calmly placed it in!
Full time: 2-0
Mohun Bagan defeat East Bengal six times straight in the CFL!
Bagan need to win just one match from the remaining two and they will be CFL champions.
TEAM: Shilton, Maria, Manju, Shubhashis, Habibur, Douglas, Venkatesh(Lalkamal), Dharamjit, James(Anit), Barreto, Bhaichung(Lalampuia)

Kolkata Derby today!

Mohun Bagan meet their arch rivals East Bengal today in their CFL draw. Mohun Bagan lead the table with two points and need to extend their lead to ensure the CFL. The match starts off from 3.00pm at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

As the derby draws close...

As the mother of all derbies, the Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan AC and Kingfisher East Bengal draws close, tension in both the tents rise. Besides being a derby, this game will also be the Title decider. The winner moves one step closer to wining the Kolkata League.
Both the teams have been somewhat strenghtened by the arrival of a few players from the National Camp.
For Bagan though, Periera's frown has reasons to increase, as Manju, the Indian defender mayb not be able to stand in the defensive wall as he was down with fever and now is not fit enough to play. Bhaichung will feature upfront with Barreto probably. Even the pressence of Lalkamal in the Derby is a doubt.
And with young guns like Tapan Maity, LalamPuia, siting on the sideline for the Derby, Periera is having a tough time to decide upon the starting eleven.

MOHUN BAGAN ATHLETIC CLUB-The National club of India

A Short History:

MOHUN BAGAN AC-The National club of India, the oldest Club in Asia,
was established on 15th August 1889 when India was up in arms against her collonial head, England.

Eversince its establishment the Club had been winning a lot of local leagues and cups but the moment of greatness that surpasses all came in the year 1911 when Mohun Bagan AC became the first Indian club/team to defeat the foreigners in their own game of football.

On 29th of July 1911 Mohun Bagan won the IFA shield beating East Yorkshire 2-1. Eversince there has been no stopping!

The club has won and keeps on winning many a laurel for the country! It has made our Nation Proud!

According to FIFA rankings, in Asia, Mohun Bagan is the 16th biggest team to have an avg. home crowd of 19,888. According to World standards, Mohun Bagan has been ranked of 127 much ahead of other big clubs like Udinese(Italy), Benfica(Portugal) and Fulham(England) to mention a few.

It is however,not an easy task to consolidate the history of a club which is more than 117 years old*...(read more...)

*For Further Info:Please visit The Offical site of MAC: History section please open in a New Window

Location: Kolkata Maidan
Colours:
Green and Maroon
Symbol: Sail Boat

Stadium: Mohun Bagan ground
Yuva Bharati Krirangan

MOHUN BAGAN AC- It's not just a club, it is an institution, a religion, a passion. LIVE IT...DIE FOR IT...

A Pictorial trip of the Mohun Bagan Ground!

Satellite Imagery of our Club Ground!*
*Open in a New Window please.
Images of Yuva Bharati Krirangan*
*Open in a New Window please.

Photos by: Soumyadeb Sinha
Photos by: Soumyadeb Sinha

Souvenirs

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