Bencherifa to be Mohun Bagan coach

Kolkata: Mohun Bagan on Friday named Karim Bencherifa as their coach but the Moroccan is expected to take over the reigns only on November 18 after serving a one-month notice at Salgaocar.

Less than a week after Santosh Kashyap was forced to quit following back-to-back losses in I-League and Federation Cup ouster, Mohun Bagan official Srinjoy Bose today said they have negotiated with the Moroccan for a fresh innings at the club. But as Bencherifa would not be available immediately, Mridul Banerjee, an AFC A License holder, was appointed interim coach. "We are very hopeful that Bencherifa is joining us on November 18. We have reached a negotiation. But at present he is serving notice so we are yet to sign on the dotted lines," he said during a media interaction at the club tent today. Though he refused to divulge the most lucrative deal in Indian coaching which is said to be worth Rs 2.5 crore, he said it would be a long term association till season 2014, hence a 19-month contract. Bencherifa had yesterday tendered his resignation at Salgaocar ending his contract which was till May 2013. Both the parties had an exit clause with a one-month notice period. Mohun Bagan have thus changed coaches eight times since the Moroccan had parted ways after his association with the club from June 2008 to January 2010. After leaving Mohun Bagan, Bencherifa proved to be a success with Salgaocar earning them I-League title and then the Federation Cup triumph last season. PTI