A post match report! Al Karamah vs Mohun Bagan

After the end of the match a press conference on the game was held. The Bagan Moroccan coach Karim Bencharifa shook hands at the beginning with Al Karamah Captain Mohammed Qweid Park and congratulated him on the win.
In question to the coach of the Indian team regarding the level of his team, he said that the team was over at a difficult and critical stage in the Indian league. They have not won the league since 2001 and this year they have a good chance of winning it and that they are on the top 3 and that they have had a magical run of 10 consecutive wins in the league and hence the players are having to work hard and thus the team is suffering from physical and mental fatigue which has affected few of the key players, forcing him to the play in this match 4 players who are between the age (20 to 22) years and that this was their first participation in an official match, and that these players have performed well and that too on one of the first games and they were outside India. He is pleased at the team's performance, especially playing against a great and an ancient team in an Asian competition and that too in front a large audience enthusiastic and hungry to win.

In response to a question on the penalty he said that we had a chance to take the lead but this doesnot mean we could have secured the win, and said that the missed penalty has greatly impacted the morale of his team and was a turning point in the game, and that his team was also suffering due to the absence of the Brazilian, who plays at the center of the attack and is leading the team(Barreto). About his opponent, Karim said, “Al Karama are a well known for their Asian experience,” he said. “We played against a good side and their fans played a big part. “We had a chance to take the lead from a spot kick but this doesn’t mean we could have secured the win. I’m satisfied with the performance.”

When asked about Mohun Bagan, Mohamad Kwid, who guided Al Karama to the 2006 Champions League final said, “Mohun Bagan were an organised side and they played well. I watched their recent matches and knew that they would be dangerous. Mohun Bagan had a golden chance to take the lead through the spot kick and things would have been harder had they scored.” He added “We had a lot of chances to score in the second half but the Indian goalkeeper(Sangram Mukherjee) played well.”

In the other Group D match, Al Kuwait coach Laurent Banide was pleased the Kuwait League champions returned from their trip to Jordan with a point despite despite taking a first half lead against Al Wehdat through Faraj Laheeb. Amer Deeb earned the home side a point as he netted seven minutes after the hour mark. “After taking an early lead we continued to control the game but Al Wehdat attacked us well and even though we conceded the equaliser we held on to the point,” said the Frenchman. “We are in a tough group and earning an away point against a tough team is good from our opening match.” Al Wihdat were left to rue a missed opportunity to claim all three points as Al Kuwait goalkeeper Khalid Al Fadhli saved Mahmoud Shelbaieh’s 71st minute penalty. “We played against a big team who played well and their players were impressive. We didn’t play well in the first half as the players lacked concentration,” said assistant coach Jamal Mahmoud “In the second half we used the flanks and we managed to get back by scoring the equaliser before we had a chance to take the lead but Shelbaieh failed to score from the spot.”

Source: Al Karamah fan site