Mohun Bagan look to extend winning run

Kolkata: Set to take part in the Indian Super League (ISL) after their historic merger with two-time champions ATK, Indian football heavyweights Mohun Bagan will look to assert their supremacy when they take on arch-rivals East Bengal in the rescheduled Kolkata Derby of the I-League at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

The derby was postponed owing to the fragile political situation in the state. It was originally slated to take place on December 22. On Thursday, ATK acquired a majority stake in Mohun Bagan and the green and the maroon side will join hands with ATK to play in the ISL from next season.

The RPSG Group, which owns and runs two-time ISL champions ATK, became an 80 percent majority shareholder with Mohun Bagan owning the remaining 20 percent shares. The merged club will come into existence from June 1, 2020, and will compete in the ISL 2020-21, along with other important competitions in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) calendar.

It was a momentous occasion for Mohun Bagan who was looking for a sponsor and wanted to participate in the ISL, which has been accorded the status of the country’s top league. Former Mohun Bagan players and sections of their supporters hailed the merger, saying they wanted to see their club feature in the premier league of India and get a chance to represent the country at the continent forum with the AFC Champions League playoff slot up for grabs for those who top the ISL table at the end of the league.

In the I-League, Mohun Bagan is at the top of the heap with 14 points from seven matches and stand a chance to win the competition and end on a high. IANS

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