Bagan seek to overcome Odafa hurdle

KOLKATA: The need to embellish the biggest happening in their 122-year history or the obligation to bring a trophy to an empty cupboard. Just when Mohun Bagan were trying to figure out which of the two compulsions was bringing the greater pressure before the 115th IFA Shield final at the Salt Lake Stadium here, opponents Churchill Brothers have queered the pitch for them.
Odafa Okolie, the most potent striker in the country in the past few years, air-dashed from Goa on Tuesday to become the buzz here, and he has surely loomed large in Subhas Bhowmick's radar. In the absence of the Mohun Bagan technical director, who skipped Tuesday's morning practice because of fever, Edeh Chidi took it upon himself to wonder whether it was all a little psychological ploy.
"Sometimes some players are brought to scare you more than anything else," the Bagan striker proffered, suggesting that his fellow-Nigerian may not have completely recovered from an abductor muscle tear. "Our team is playing well and we are not too worried."
The man himself declared he was "fully fit" and all ready for the contest. "I've recovered completely, and considering that our team is playing well, I'm quite confident that we'll lift the trophy," Odafa said on Tuesday, a few hours before a light practice at the Salt Lake Stadium, venue of Thursday's showdown.
But, then, even if reluctantly, everyone acknowledges that there is suddenly a clear and present danger. Centre-back Anwar Ali, back from Team India duty, knows he has his task cut out. "His shooting and finishing are very good, and we'll have to ensure that he is not given the space to operate," Anwar said after practice, and pointed out: "But, then, if they get scoring chances, so will we. And remember both Chidi and Ashim (Biswas) are playing well."
Mohun Bagan, celebrating the centenary of their famous victory over East Yorkshire in the 1911 IFA Shield final, will have to go in without the talismanic Jose Barreto, who is nursing a calf injury. With fellow-Nigerian Subair Muritala Ali sitting out with shoulder and knee injuries, Chidi will be the only foreigner on the pitch for them.
"More than anything else, we will miss Barreto's leadership on the pitch but our team is playing well as an unit at the moment," coach Sujit Chakraborty said when asked about the absence of key players.
Missing men have hit Churchill Brothers as well. "We are without so many first team players that it's a miracle that the team has come this far," said Drago Mamic, who took charge of the team earlier this month. Kiwi striker Kayne Vincent and attacking medio Amouri of Brazil are out with hamstring injuries while Binish Balan, who has had a good tournament, is a "50-50" case. The Croatian coach is also worried over his team's profligacy. "We create chances only to squander them. That's where the experience of Mohun Bagan can be seen. They are scoring from nothing," he said.
Mohun Bagan haven't a good run against Churchill Brothers in the tournament, the 20-time champions going down by a goal in 2008 and then losing last year's final 0-2. They lost their away I-League match and drew the home tie last month. They have a job on their hands.
The bad news is that Churchill Brothers too haven't won a trophy this season!