Gokulam Kerala coach not concerned at stars’ exit

Hosts formidable Mohun Bagan in its tournament-opener

Seven months after Gokulam Kerala FC held Mohun Bagan to a 1-1 draw, the two teams come face to face at the Corporation Stadium on Saturday.

If that was the last game of the 11th edition of the league for both sides, this one is the first. If Henry Kisekka had represented Gokulam in that match last March, he is playing for Bagan this season.

The big-built Ugandan striker isn’t the only key player who has left Gokulam. Playmaker Mahmood Al-Ajmi and striker Kiwi Zhumomi had also contributed handsomely towards the Kerala team’s astonishing run in the second half that took it to the Super Cup.

Coach Bino George, however, said the exit of star players like Kisekka would not impact his team. “We have a lot of good players still,” he said. “If we could draw with Bagan last year, we could beat them this time.”

He said Gokulam would be able to start the game with its best possible eleven, as its biggest new signing, Antonio German, has regained fitness. The host needs the Grenadian striker to fire if it wants to continue from where it left off in the last season.

Bagan’s coach Shankarlal Chakraborty said Gokulam was a formidable rival. “They played really well last year, but I think they have become even stronger,” he said. “They have some fine home-grown talents in the squad.”

One of them, Muhammed Rashid, the midfielder who is also the vice captain of the team, expressed hope that Gokulam would get good support from their fans.

“Last year, it was pretty disappointing that we had to play many of our home matches in front of small crowds, though the team was doing exceedingly well,” he said. “I wish the crowd would become the 12th man for us, as in the case of Kerala Blasters.”

With the kick-off slated for a more sensible 5 p.m. — instead of last season’s 2 p.m. start — Gokulam could afford to wish for bigger turnouts.