New Delhi: Federation Cup champions East
Bengal will have a tough task at hand as they take a strong
Lebanese side Al Nejmeh without star striker Bhaichung Bhutia
in an AFC Cup match in Beirut tomorrow.
The red-and-gold brigade from Kolkata, trying to come out
of the disappointment of their 1-4 thrashing at home at the
hands of Al Ittihad of Syria, suffered a jolt as national
captain Bhutia could not accompany the side due to a muscle
tear on his right leg.
Bhutia's absence will be felt in the team which has also
not done well in the ongoing I-League. The Indian captain is
expected to be out of action for at least three weeks.
The trio of captain Syed Rahim Nabi, veteran Ghanaian
Yusif Yakubu and Abel Hammond will have to carry the burden at
the upfront and look for goals in the Group D encounter at the
Sports City Stadium.
A loss tomorrow will severely dent the hopes of the
Kolkata giants of finishing among top two sides from the
four-team group to make it to the knock-out round of 16.
To the good fortune of East Bengal, Al Nejmeh, currently
third in the Lebanese league, have been facing problems of the
their own. An acute financial crisis prevails in the club and coach
Emile Roustam, who also happens to be the national team coach
of Lebanon, has offered his resignation recently.
Al Nejmeh, who have just won two of their last seven
games in their national league and are having a goal drought
having failed to score in their last two home games.
They, however, have started their AFC Cup on a better
note with a draw against Al Qadsia of Kuwait, that too in an
away game.
East Bengal, on the other hand, had a disappointing show
in their campaign opener, losing 1-4 to Al Ittihad as they let
in two late goals at the Salt Lake Stadium.
They have also been performing poorly in the on-going
I-League occupying the seventh spot after losing to sides like
Pune FC and Shillong Lajong recently.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 20:22