The Leaders are back at Mohun Bagan -- club welcomes coach Sanjoy Sen and captain Sony Norde
THERE ARE ABOUT THREE WEEKS LEFT for the I-League season to kick off. And Mohun Bagan are making some last-minute additions to their squad. But no, these are not new signings.
The Mariners' coach Sanjoy Sen has been missing from action ever since he was admitted to hospital with chest pains and had to undergo a bypass surgery. His assistant Shankarlal Chakraborty was the one who led the club to its first silverware of the season: the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup. But on Monday, after being away for recovery for months, he returned to the Mohun Bagan Ground for the morning practice session.
First practice session for @ILeagueOfficial 2017-18. Sanjoy Sen has joined the practice #JoyMB pic.twitter.com/RQgKzS8hLV
— Mariners@Bangalore (@MBbengaluru) October 23, 2017
He is not the only leader figure in the club who is back. After Katsumi Yusa's departure, the Mariners decided to pass the captain's armband to Haitian winger Sony Norde. Norde, who has been a part of the club since the 2014-15 season, decided to rebuff several offers from clubs in both I-League and ISL to remain at Mohun Bagan. On early hours of Tuesday, he finally reached Kolkata to join the team's pre-season efforts. He arrived to a hero's welcome which began even before he reached India, with the flight crew of Qatar Airways preparing a special cake to welcome him back. TFG has learned that it was a Mohun Bagan fan named Biswajit, who works with the airline, who found out which flight Norde was flying on and arranged for this surprise treat.
@sony_norde_16 of @Mohun_BaganAC reached Kolkata yesterday past midnight. pic.twitter.com/9gdwvw2lri
— Mohun Bagan (@Mohun_BaganAC) October 24, 2017
His flight reached Kolkata very late at night, but there were still enthusiastic Mohun Bagan fans waiting at the airport to welcome him back.
দূরের দিগন্তে যুদ্ধ হাজার
— The Mariners' (@MohunBagan) October 24, 2017
মাটিতে পা তাই পড়ল রাজার ।
Warm reception even at midnight, 2.30 am !
Welcome Back Champion! pic.twitter.com/UAvShC7sgf
After the long flight, he arrived in Kolkata around 2 am with his wife and son. But fatigue and jet lag did not stop him from turning up at the practice session that very morning. He did not take to the pitch but spent much of the time talking about strategy and plans for the upcoming season with coach Sanjoy Sen and club officials.
Live from Mohunbagan ground:
— The Mariners' (@MohunBagan) October 24, 2017
Sony Norde in discussion with think tank ! pic.twitter.com/ZJC4SWu78W
Ahead of the league season, Mohun Bagan have friendly matches planned with FC Pune City, FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC. The club will be glad to give their biggest star some match practice before they begin their mission to win the title of Champions of India, which they fell short of winning by 1 point last season.
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