Atletico de Kolkata ready for ISL opener

Going by what Oftense Nato has to say the team is free from any major fitness issues and have jelled well over the last few days and is looking forward to the opening match.

"We have no major fitness worry. The preparations have been good. Initially we struggled with the weather conditions, but now we have acclamatised. We are quietly confident of doing well against Mumbai City FC in the opening tie," said the Botswanian midfielder from Bidvest Wits in South Africa.

Asked to assess the strength of the opponents with players like Nicolas Anelka and Fredrick Ljungberg in the ranks, he said: "Every team has its strength and weaknesses. We are concentrating on our strength. And we are not giving importance to any individual but the whole team."

On whether the absence of the duo in the first match will be an advantage, the lanky African said: "They would have added their experience to the team. But even without them Mumbai City FC is a strong team and we are not underestimating them in any way."

He also confessed that he has joined the Kolkata outfit largely because of the coach Antonio Lopez Habas.

"He was my coach in Bidvest. he is a very good coach and is an intelligent game reader. he is a big influence in my coming to Kolkata," Nato said.

He was also very pleased with the turf of Salt Lake Stadium, though he added that the facilities though were good were 'not world class'.

Meanwhile, first choice keeper Subhasis Roychowdhury was mighty impressed with the presence of Luis Garcia and Borja Fernandez. "They have been very helpful. We are learning a lot of things from them including basics like receiving and off the ball play."

On whether the 1-3 drubbing at Salt lake in a practice match was weighing heravy on the team, he added," We have played 7 practice match. Won 5, drew one and lost one. The one we lost was played within a day of our return from Spain and the weather conditions did not help. The team just could not play to its potential."

He also said that now the team had a much better understanding and communication. "The defence and offence looks well coordinated and we are happy to be in the position that we are now."

Meanwhile, it has been learnt from informed sources that the Mumbai City FC management is lobbying hard with FIFA to revoke the ban on Anelka so that the player is available for the first match. Ljungberg will however sit out the first game with an injury.

(Reporting by Arindam Basu)