AFC Cup: Bengaluru confident of victory after skipper Sunil Chhetri declared fit for clash with Maziya

Bengaluru: Hit by the absence of key players including Udanta Singh due to injuries, the Bengaluru Football club on Tuesday received a shot in the arm with captain Sunil Chhetri declared fit for tomorrow’s must-win AFC Cup final group game against Maziya FC of Maldives.

“Yes, Chhetri is fully fit for tomorrow,” BFC Coach Albert Roca told reporters on the eve of the match at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Chhetri had picked up a hamstring injury during Federation Cup.

Roca said Chhetri had been working hard with the medical staff to make himself available for selection.

“Sunil has been undergoing workouts and training, with the medical team, to recover from the injury. We will see tomorrow. Let us see,” he added.

Asked about the fitness of CK Vineeth, Roca said the Kerala player will also be available for selection and will look to continue his form.

With the likely return of Chhetri, Vineeth would look to score as many goals he could and create opportunities for scoring. The Kerala player had scored a brace against Bagan to win Federation Cup title.

Roca, however, ruled out Udanta for tomorrow’s match.

“The only one who is not available tomorrow is Udanta. It is a shame that we will be missing him,” he said.

Udanta had limped out of the title clash in Cuttack against Mohun Bagan.

BFC will also be bolstered by the return of Harmanjot Khabra and John Johnson to the squad after they were suspended for AFC Cup match against Bagan.

Roca’s men may like to take a cue out of the earlier record against Maziya as they had trounced the Maldivian side thrice before in as many matches.

“We have a 100 percent win record against Maziya and while the numbers do give us confidence, the record isn’t something we will make too much of when we step on the pitch,” Roca said.

While a Bengaluru win will take them at level with leaders Maziya (12 points), a better head-to-head record against the Maldivian side will take the Blues through to the next round.

As far as the visitors are concerned, Maziya are the reigning league champions of Maldives, and have registered four wins in their first five matches of the AFC Cup group so far.

Maziya needs just a draw to go into the next stage. Striker Mohamed Umair, who has been in terrific form, will be the man to watch out for.

“The game against Maziya is another final, just that there’s no trophy or medal at the end of it. And while we don’t dwell too much on success that we have tasted, the team will look to draw inspiration from our Federation Cup triumph,” Roca said.

“We have left things late, but we need to back ourselves,” said the Spaniard who famously guided the Blues to a historic AFC Cup final last season.

Federation Cup winners Bengaluru FC will be high on confidence when they lock horns with Maziya Sports & Recreation in Bangalore on Wednesday with an aim to qualify for the next round of the AFC Cup. The Group E match will be held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

Bengaluru, who beat Mohun Bagan for their second Federation Cup triumph, need to win against Maldives’ Maziya to have a shot at the round of 16.

Bengaluru FC made history when they became the first Indian club to make the title clash of the continental tournament last season. They would be keen to do one better this time around.

Entering the game after his heroics in the Federation Cup final against Mohun Bagan, CK Vineeth would look to continue in the same vein when he takes to the field on Wednesday.

Enjoying a good run of form, the Kerala player scored both the goals against Mohun Bagan, and there will be added responsibility on his shoulders with skipper Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh injured.

Maziya are on 12 points, with Bengaluru on nine, but the Indian side has an egde in head-to-head record. A John Johnson strike in injury time had given Bengaluru a 1-0 away win in the last meeting between the sides on 4 April.

Cameron Watson missed the Federation Cup final through suspension, but should return to partner Euguenson Lyngdoh at the centre of midfield.

As far as the visitors are concerned, Maziya are the reigning league champions of Maldives, and have registered four wins in their first five matches of the AFC Cup group so far.

Striker Mohamed Umair, who has been in terrific form, will be the man to watch out for.