Kolkata: ATK Mohun Bagan and Gokulam Kerala FC are set to begin their AFC Cup campaign from May 18th at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan. The Mariners have been placed in the Group D of the competition with I-League Champions Gokulam Kerala, Bangladesh Premier league Champions Bashundhara Kings and Dhivehi Premier League Champions Maziya Sports and Recreation.
The tournament will be Juan Ferrando’s chance at reclaiming the 6-0 loss in the last edition of the tournament faced by Antonio Lopez Habas at the hands of FC Nasaf. While it will be the maiden opportunity for Gokulam Kerala FC to make a mark in the Asian tournament.
Ousting Sri-Lankan outfit Blue Star FC and Bangladeshi outfit Abahani Dhaka ATK Mohun Bagan reached the group stage of the Asian tournament. At the same time, Gokulam Kerala earned their entry into the tournament winning the I-League season 2020-21.
Maziya SR on the other hand has been an old feat in the AFC Cup with their debut appearance being in the 2013 edition of the tournament. Playing 39 games in the tournament so far Maziya has won only 11 of them. In their latest encounter against ATK Mohun Bagan FC, the Maldives side lost 3-1 and will be looking forward to avenging the loss.
As for Bashundhara Kings, the Bangladesh Premier League winners come in high spirits after claiming a victory against the Police FC in their latest feat. The 2013-founded side has appeared only once in AFC Cup before, in 2021 where they finished third in the group below ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC. The 141st ranked team started their 2020 campaign with a 5-1 but the stint was cut short. In their last game played out against the Mariners, Bashundhara was held to a 1-1 draw by the Indian side.
While ATK Mohun Bagan will be reclaiming a victory on both the side, Gokulam Kerala will be looking forward to their maiden AFC Cup victory, against ATK Mohun Bagan itself in the opener on May 18 itself.
