Khalid Jamil wants to start East Bengal's pre-season next week

KHALID JAMIL HAS more or less decided to accept East Bengal's offer to become their new head coach, and he does not want to waste any time to get the season started.

Apart from the coach, East Bengal have poached a number of players from Aizawl FC, some on a full one year contract, and some just for the upcoming Calcutta Football League season where the club has the potential to make history.

The Red and Golds have won the CFL for the last 7 editions straight, equalling their own previous record of most successive CFL titles. If they win the CFL this time it will be a new record in the local league's history which goes back well over a century.

Khalid Jamil reportedly understands the stakes the CFL holds and that's why he wants to start the practice from 20th or 22nd June so he gets a month to prepare for the league which kicks off in July.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the East Bengal officials will act fast and get him enough players to start the pre season camp. The club is facing uncertain times as the AIFF is yet to officially declare the structure of the upcoming season. The Football Players' Association of India has advised players not to sign with any club or franchise until all this is resolved.

But with the club set to introduce some of its academy graduates into its CFL squad, there's a good chance Jamil will have enough enough players to start a camp with. What remains to be seen is if he will get all the key players he wants to have for CFL for the duration of the camp.

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