Mohammedan Sporting Club seek a breath of fresh air after a torrid ISL campaign as they prepare to face NorthEast United FC in the pre-quarterfinals of the Kalinga Super Cup at the Kalinga Stadium.
The Black and White Brigade finished at the bottom of the ISL table, with several backroom issues plaguing their campaign — ranging from delayed player salaries to the management’s failure to align with the ambitions of their investors.
Unfortunately, those issues still persist. Due to ongoing salary disputes, most of the club’s foreign and domestic players have not regrouped with the squad. Only two foreign players — Florent Ogier and Marc Andre Schmerböck — have joined the team for Super Cup preparations. However, Ogier has been reluctant to play due to personal reasons, leaving Mohammedan with just one foreigner in their ranks.
Additionally, key Indian players like Vanlalzuidika Chhakchhuak, Zodingliana Adinga Ralte, and Manvir Singh are yet to join the team’s preparations.
With a depleted squad, head coach Mehrajjudin Wadoo is aiming for nothing short of a miracle against the Durand Cup champions NorthEast United, who will field a full-strength side.
Despite the odds, Mohammedan can draw some confidence from their earlier performances. They managed a spirited draw against NorthEast on the Highlanders’ home turf and narrowly lost the first meeting by a solitary goal in the ISL. But this time, the task appears far more daunting.
“There have been problems in the club,” Wadoo admitted in the pre-match press conference. “But this isn’t the first time. I’ve been in Indian football for a very long time and have seen these issues before. The management is working hard to resolve the situation as soon as possible.”
Wadoo is well aware of the strength of their opponents but remains confident that his players will make things difficult for NorthEast.
“They’re one of the sides that aspired to win the Indian Super League,” he said. “They performed well — they won the Durand Cup and reached the ISL playoffs. They’ll come at us all guns blazing. But they also know we won’t be easy opponents.”
Due to the club’s financial turmoil, the team could not even organise a proper pre-tournament camp, having managed to train only for three days prior to the match. Members of the club’s executive committee had to pool resources at the last moment to pay player salaries and ensure participation.
“We’ve only had three training sessions since the ISL game,” Wadoo revealed. “Our last match was on 11 March. Still, we’re very optimistic.”
Despite all the off-field struggles, Wadoo and his brigade remain determined to make a statement on Thursday when they take the pitch against the Highlanders.
“We are very positive about the game,” Wadoo concluded. “Let’s see what happens tomorrow. I think the boys are very keen to get on the pitch and give their best.”