MUMBAI, APRIL 4: Ever since beer baron Vijay Mallya - whose United Breweries has a major stake in Calcutta giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal -announced a cut in prices of footballers in Calcutta by 30-50 per cent, the Bengal Mumbai Football Club (BMFC) too has decided to try the same path.BMFC will now trust its fortunes with not-so-famous players rather than enrolling big names. According to Krishnendu Sen, BMFC managing director, the club has already roped in eight new players for the next season. Dipankar Chowdhary (Dempo), Harnek Singh (Punjab Police), Ajoy Singh (Tollygunge Agargami), Daljeet Singh (Jagatjit Cotton Textiles), Farooq, Gurinder Singh Sodhi (both Punjab State Electricity Board), Santo Bhowmick (Assam Police) and Santa Koley (George Telegram, Calcutta) have signed up with BMFC for the next season, according to the BMFC MD. ``None of them are stars, but are richly talented,'' Sen said.Sen added, ``Four other players - Kaustav Ghosh (East Bengal), Shabbir Ali Mondal (Salgoacar),Peter Siddique (Indian Telephone Industries) and BS Negi (Border Security Police) have agreed to join."BMFC, brimming this season with prominent stars from leading clubs, won the Western India Football Association Super League. Later, they took the Rovers Cup in their maiden appearance.Aloke Das (captain, Mohun Bagan), Sanjeeb Shaikh, James Singh (both Tata Football Academy), Emeka Acheliefu, Musa Aliu, Harsharnjeet Singh (all JCT) and Gurinder Pal Singh (Churchill Brothers) were among the star players to don BMFC colours this season.Commented Sen on those leaving BMFC next season, ``so far, we have confirmed news about 'keeper Arvind Kumar (joining JCT), Jamal brothers - Kashif and Taushif, Rehmatlluah Khan (ITI), Aftab Ansari (ITI), Salim Pathan (Maharashtra Police) leaving.''BMFC will start its campaign for the second division National Football League from April 16 at Cooperage where they are placed in tough Group B with Vasco (Goa), Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautical Limited andRailsima Club (Hyderabad).``The good news is that right back Manjinder Singh will return to strengthen our defence,'' informed Sen. Manjinder - the former JCT defender - was in Phagwara (his hometown) for more than seven months following some problems with the BMFC management which have since been sorted out.Sen is optimistic of his team's chances in second division NFL and has made plans for the next season. But it remains to be seen if Mumbai's first professional club will be able to keep the tempo going after a promising maiden season.
