Training in Kolkata suits CUK

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Chirag United Kerala management has decided to fly the boys out of base for the IFA Shield slated to begin in Kolkata on March 3 after having given a pass to the E. K. Nayanar Gold Cup scheduled in Kozhikode.

The team will be flying to Kolkata on March 1 and resume training for the prestigious tourney at the SAI ground close to the Salt Lake Stadium under their new technical director Biswajit Bhattacharya.

“Yes, we will take part in the IFA Shield,” said Rana Bandyopadhyay, vice president of Chirag Computers and owners of the club. “There are far better grounds in Kolkata and our boys will enjoy training there,” he said.

The Chirag management had thought it wise to skip the Gold Cup for fear of adding a few more to the string of injuries the squad has had.

Their initial action plan was to get the team in shape for their crucial home game against Shillong on March 24.

The Kolkata-based owners had conceded after the controversial sacking of Nizam Packeer Ali that they would not be shifting base under any circumstance. However, they are nonetheless happy with Kerala, as is amply proved by the recent developments.

“We are concerned about the safety of the players as the grounds here are not good for training. Our priority is going for wins in the last seven games, but for that we need proper practice sessions, and that’s not be possible here,” said Rana.

The team’s first session under Biswajit was on the Maharaja’s College Ground and the muddy surface was not worthy of a ball game. Also, the international stadium in Kochi, their designated home, is not playable for now, due to the work on sprinklers.

So, it’s rather a forced move (for training) to Kolkata and not a permanent relocation, as a feeling of skepticism is getting spread like the dengue among fans of the club here. “If we played the Nayanar Cup and could not do well, it will be counter-productive, as it occurs at home,” said Rana. “We need to boost the morale of the boys and there’s not much time,” he said. It is also learnt that the Chirag will be playing two practice matches against foreign teams, one of it from Nigeria.