The stage is set for the iconic Kolkata Derby as East Bengal take on Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Durand Cup quarter-final on August 17, 2025. But ahead of the high-voltage clash, East Bengal have suffered a major setback.
Their new midfielder, Mohammed Rashid has flown back to Palestine following the death of his father. The 30-year-old rushed back home on August 15 after receiving the tragic news. Rashid had made an impressive start at the club and was expected to play a key role in the derby. He even scored a brilliant goal in the previous match against the Indian Air Force.
At the pre-match press conference, East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon shared his thoughts on the situation. “First of all, this is difficult for me. Yesterday it was very emotional. You need to know that Rashid’s father passed away and it was an unexpected thing,” Bruzon said.
He also expressed his disappointment over the news being made public without Rashid’s consent. “It’s not that he was carrying a sickness. But I’m not happy that Rashid has asked us for total privacy and immediately after the practice the news was leaked out without the wish of the player. So I don’t want to comment on this and I want all of you not even to mention if we are going to miss him,” the coach added.
Bruzon made it clear that the team would stand behind Rashid in this difficult time. “Sometimes in life, there are more important things than football. So let’s leave Rashid’s thing aside. We are not going to think on this and I’m sure that the player that will come in his position is going to try to demonstrate that we are not missing Rashid,” he explained.
He concluded by saying that the team will look to dedicate their performance to Rashid as well. “And this is one more reason to think that tomorrow we want to win the game and apart from dedicating it to our fans, Rashid is also going to be in our blessings.”
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