Kolkata : East Bengal FC are set to face Turkmenistan Football franchise FK Arkadag for away leg at 0°c on March 12, after losing the home leg 1-0. However, things took unexpected turn for them after reaching the country.
After a long flight to Turkmenistan, the Red – Yellow brigade were trapped in the Turkmenistan hotel as the authorities there didn’t allow them to leave. In other words, they’re merely restricted to a prisoner kind of life. Besides this, the internet services were shut down and they’re not allowed to practice in field. Moreover, the no one there understands any other language apart from local language hence, the Bengal Club members are facing communication issues. No one stated these issues to East Bengal beforehand.
As soon as they reached the airport, despite having all the necessary documents, everyone was detained at the airport for about two and a half hours for immigration on various pretexts. They were being served food cooked in dirty water.
Rafael Messi arrived in Arkadag at 9 am local time on Sunday. But they were cut off from the rest of the world until the afternoon. Because the mobile phone internet service was restored in the afternoon. He says, “We were not informed in advance that we cannot step outside the Arkadag hotel without permission. We only found out after arriving here. We are practically imprisoned. On top of that, there is a severe language problem. It doesn’t end here. We don’t have the opportunity to practice as we wish. We can only go when they send the bus.”
East Bengal had already informed the footballers about the food list for the day and sent it to Turkish hotel authorities. But when they went to have breakfast, it was seen that nothing was cooked according to the diet.
Hence, most of the footballers did not eat that food. In the afternoon, the hotel provided only three dishes. Thick rice, thin dal and one fried fish. Despite what was said earlier, there was no meat or egg dish. Even though the hotel is quite big, they reportedly cooked with water from a bucket of dirty water.
Upon opening the hotel tap, muddy water came out first. A ring of fear has been created around East Bengal. Although there is WiFi in the hotel, it is very slow. Again, all social networking sites are blocked there.
Footballers are not even able to talk to the few family members. In other ways, some are only able to WhatsApp occasionally. Only four SIM cards are allocated for the entire team due to local SIMs.
East Bengal had earlier announced that the footballers would go for a walk in the afternoon. But a ban was imposed there too. After talking for a long time, it was announced that a bus would come at 4 pm to take them to the ground.
The passports of the footballers were taken to Arkadag, the former president’s team. The entire city is under his control. The area is practically deserted. Tourists are not allowed to enter. There are only police and soldiers on the streets. After East Bengal entered the hotel, everyone’s passports were taken. They were not returned to anyone until night. It was clearly stated that no one except Arkadag’s representatives would be allowed to leave the hotel. Not even a little toothpaste or brush was provided in the room.
Even though East Bengal footballers arrived before the specified time, the bus arrived at 4:50. When East Bengal’s bus was going to the stadium, a car followed it the entire way.
However, the Arkadag management apparently knows nothing about that car. The condition of the main field is very bad. The entire land is uneven. The grass is big in some places, short in others. There are chances of getting injured. There is also a ban on taking pictures outside. All in all, East Bengal is in serious trouble while playing AFC Challenge League match.
Despite all the odds, Oscar Bruzon’s army is set to remain positive and put up winning attitude against FK Arkadag in their home soil and conditions.
