Mohun Bagan prepare to take on Bengaluru in under-prepared stadium amid lukewarm interest

THE GROUND ISN'T ready. The grass isn't thick enough and if you look at the middle of the pitch you can make out the ghost of a cricket pitch.

The gallery isn't ready. Some parts of it are undergoing renovations and will remain closed to the spectators, leading to only 6,000 tickets being allocated.

The fans aren't ready. It's the middle of a deadly summer and the Mohun Bagan fans from Kolkata aren't interested in the hassle of travelling to Siliguri since the I-League title race has already been decided. And Siliguri, being an East Bengal stronghold, has less local interest around a Mohun Bagan game.

Even the travelling fans - Bengaluru FC faithfuls eager to be present at the occasion to see their team lift a historic second league title in 3 years - have been bowled over by the change in date and venue. Originally scheduled to be played in Kolkata on 24th April, the game was preponed a day and moved to the North Bengal town due to assembly elections taking place in much of Kolkata on the 25th. This stumped many of the away fans' travel plans. Many of those who want to come are yet to sort out their travel details, a day before the game.

All in all, the Mohun Bagan vs Bengaluru FC match being held tomorrow is going to take place in a lukewarm, half-baked atmosphere. Most of the gallery will be empty and looking at the ground conditions, one couldn't blame the teams if they played it safe.

This game could very nearly have become yet another climactic clash between two title contenders to decide who lifts the trophy, like last season. But BFC have won the league already. For Westwood and Co, this is a trip to fetch the trophy. 

For Mohun Bagan, the title is lost. All they are fighting for here is their pride. Coach Sanjoy Sen told the media yesterday that he wanted to finish the league campaign by beating the champions, and that's an understandable notion. Even the players like Sony Norde are eager to prove themselves against the champions.

But both the coaches will be forced to think ahead when they prepare their strategy for tomorrow's game. The I-League is over, but the season is far from done. After wrapping up their campaigns tomorrow, both clubs will have just a week at hand to prepare for the Federation Cup.

At a time like this, the prospect of a match on an under-prepared pitch like Siliguri's Kanchenjunga Stadium is not something either coach will be happy with. The players are already under the weather due to heat and the fatigue that comes with a long season. Risking them in a dead league match on a bad turf may come back to bite them in the Federation Cup. So it wouldn't be surprising if the coaches - especially Westwood - choose to rest some of the stars of the team and try out some bench players.

Doing that makes sense in more than one ways. Bengaluru are the defending champions in Federation Cup and Mohun Bagan will be one of their toughest challengers. Getting to play a game against them right before the tournament starts is a rare opportunity to try things out. It can become a virtual practice match and a precursor to a clash that may see its climax in the Cup rather than the league.

But perhaps there will be more to this game than that. Ashley Westwood hates the idea of losing to Mohun Bagan, especially after what happened at Kanteerava last season. Even this season when Mohun Bagan visited Kanteerava they came out victorious. Tensions have been boiling between both the coaches for a long time, sometimes leading to verbal and physical outbursts. Ashley Westwood's Bengaluru has never tasted a win against Sanjoy Sen's Bagan. And that is something they will be looking to change tomorrow. 

A win for Bengaluru will be a landmark result for them that will establish them as the undisputed champions of India. That's what will motivate the Blues tomorrow. And as for the Green and Maroons, they will want to make amends for losing grip over a season they started so brilliantly with a long unbeaten run. The Mariners have not only failed to defend their I-League title, but are now in a position where they have not won a match for more than a month. So that's what will be at stake for them; a chance to return to winning ways against none other than the champions... something that will rejuvenate their demoralised fans ahead of the Federation Cup. 

One would wish a match like this could take place in a better place, but that's I-League for you.