November 05, 2024 14:01 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Pakistan's Lahore has become world's most polluted city with an AQI of 1900 on Sunday | Indian Army 'successfully completes' patrolling to a key point in Ladakh's Depsang region | US presidential election: Donald Trump ahead of Kamala Harris in swing states, poll survey predicts | 'I strongly condemn Hindu temple attack, intimidation of our diplomats': PM Modi amid Canada row | 'I strongly condemn Hindu temple attack, intimidation of our diplomats': PM Modi amid Canada row
Goenka dismisses concern over stadium availability as ATK give new look team

Goenka dismisses concern over stadium availability as ATK give new look team

| | 15 Jul 2016, 04:37 pm
Kolkata, Jul 15 (IBNS): While Atletico de Kolkata promises a brand new look side, the owners are still unsure as to whether the Salt Lake Stadium will be ready for the season opener.

Arnab Mandal and Jewel Raja are the only Indian players from last season in the new squad that features Shilton Paul, Debjit Majumdar, Pritam Kotal, Bikramjit Singh, Kingshuk Debnath, Bidyananda Singh Ningthoujam, Bikash Jairu, Dika, Robert Lalthlanumna and Prabir Das.

Asked about the new look side, Mr Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman Rp-Sanjiv Goenka Group and Co-owner ATK, said: "Our aim is not to not do badly. We want to win. So we wanted to select a team that could help us achieve what we want."  

The team has retained the foreign recruits Ian Hume, Jose Luis Arroyo, Sameehg Doutie and Oftense Nato and have signed Stephen Pearson, Dani Mailo and Pablo Zurera.

On whether the coach had any say on the team selection, Mr Goenka said: "No the coach has just joined. We depended on the wisdom of the selectors for choosing the team. All teams want to get the best players. We are no exception. However, the core of the team with the four foreign players and two Indian counteroparts is the same."

Mr Goenka sounded hopeful about getting Salt Lake Stadium for the season. "We are in talks. Let us see. We are very hopeful. If not we have to get an alternate within the city."

He also completely dismissed the chance of aligning with either East Bengal or Mohun Bagan. Goenka also refused to confirm whether Diego Forlan would come in as a marquee player for the side. 
 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.