An excited Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen did not attempt to play down the emotions surrounding his side’s title-deciding fixture against Bengaluru FC (BFC), which will be held here on Sunday.
“This is my first stint with Bagan. In Kolkata, the only thing is to win. It has been 13 years since we have won the I-League. It’s very exciting for me, and for the lakhs of our supporters. If we can give back something to them, that will be the greatest moment of my career,” Sen said on Saturday.
The coach refused to take comfort in the fact that Bagan trounced BFC 4-1 earlier in the season. “I don’t think there is any advantage. Yes, if we cannot win (again), a draw is welcome (a draw is enough for Bagan to become champion). But, when you play for a draw, you are inviting trouble. We will definitely aim for a win,” he said.
Bagan’s Cameroon import Pierre Boya spoke about creating memories which will last a lifetime. “I already have stories to tell my children about my football career. If we win the I-League, I will have more stories to tell. Playing football without winning trophies makes no sense. This is a great opportunity to win,” Boya said.
For BFC defender John Johnson, this fixture gives his team the chance to finish a long, hard season on a high. “These kinds of matches definitely makes you excited. These are the ones that you look forward to. You work hard all season, and it boils down to this,” he said. — Sports Reporter
