Bagan aim to bounce back

Mohun Bagan have lost the last two league encounters in the AFC Cup,but coach Karim Bencherifa isnt giving up hope just yet....

Mohun Bagan have lost the last two league encounters in the AFC Cup,but coach Karim Bencherifa isnt giving up hope just yet. On Tuesday,the Bagan boys will get a chance to put the past behind them as they take on Kuwait FC at the Howrah Stadium in their third AFC Cup league outing.

On the eve of the match,Bencherifa pointed out that he has shifted his focus from the I-League to the AFC Cup. Earlier,we were more eager about the I-League,but the situation was different then, he said.

Bencherifa has a few injury problems on his hands. Sangram Mukherjee and NS Manju are down with fever,Jose Barreto has a throat problem,and Marcos Pereira is unfit. I hope Barreto recovers in time, said the coach.

Bencherifa has gone through video clips of Kuwait FCs matches this season in the AFC Cup. I believe Kuwait FC are a strong side. They are quite skilled,both on the ground and in the air, he said.

Kuwait FC coach Laurant Banide isnt too worried about taking on Mohun Bagan. The French coach,who briefly tutored World Cup veteran David Trezeguet a decade back,insists that he will stick to a rotation system that hes been trying out in the tournament. As a result,the foreigners in the team,World Cupper Andre Macanga from Angola,Bahrains Abdullah Marzooqi and Jehad Al Hussein will be rested for Tuesdays match.

Most of our players are young. Its a skilled and energetic side. The weather here suits our players.But in any home match,the hosts start with an advantage. We may be on the top of the group now,but we shouldnt be complacent, the Kuwait FC coach said.

Dempo play Al Muharraq

Dempo have to guard against complacency when they take on Al Muharraq in the AFC Cup Group E away match in Manama,Bahrain,on Tuesday. They are currently on top of the table with six points from two matches while defending champions Muharraq are yet to open their account.

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Dempo beat Syrias Al Maged 1-0 in the opening encounter in Goa and then defeated Al Faisaly 4-3 in Jordan. However,coach Armando Colaco has warned his boys against complacency.

Our win against Al Faisaly gave us a big boost. I have warned my players to keep their feet on the ground in order to produce another good performance, said Colaco.