National Football League champions East Bengal announced a 20-member team for the February 10 AFC Cup away opener against Singapore's Geylang United FC, with coach Subhas Bhowmick banking heavily on Nigerian striker Mike Okoro to deliver the goods in his new role as midfielder.
After missing Brazilian central medio Douglas De Silva and Ghanaian wing back Suley Musah due to injury, passport blues robbed the red and gold brigade of the services of defenders M Suresh and Anit Ghosh hours before the team leaves for Singapore late Saturday night.
Doubts also hang over the availability of Surya Bikash Chakraborty, who was tentatively drafted into the side as the 20th member, as his visa formalities are yet to be completed.
A top East Bengal official said the team will go with 19 players if Chakraborty cannot not make it.
Meanwhile, Okoro, who had fallen out with the club officials and had even been pulled up on disciplinary grounds sometime back after skipping a vital NFL outing in Goa, has emerged a key element in Bhowmick's scheme of things.
Okoro has been playing as a midfield pivot for the last few matches, shifting from his known position as striker.
"Okoro is always the main player for me. He doesn't know his potential. He's a great player," Bhowmick told reporters.
Echoing his coach's views, striker Baichung Bhutia said Okoro's contribution would be a vital factor in ensuring the squad's success.
"He is improving in his new role with every match. His role is very vital," the Sikkimese added.
Bhowmick said the central defence might be a weak link in his team as both Sur Kumar Singh and Surya Bikash, one of whom would don the role, lacked in international exposure.
Asked about the target he had set for the match, the coach said "At least a draw, if not a win".
"For the first 25 minutes, we'll size up the rivals, putting one man upfront, and play a possession game with a packed midfield during the period. If everything goes well, we will revise our strategy then," said Bhowmick, who turned out against several Singapore teams during his footballer days and even scored a double hat-trick in one of the matches.
Bhowmick said Geylang has two formidable strikers - the Aussie, Aleksandar Duric, and Chang Hui of China, who are lethal scorers.
"But from the data I've gathered, it seems their defence is suspect, and may crumble under pressure," he said.
Bhutia, who has always shone in international matches, said, "I'd love to score goals. The inclusion of Christiano Junior has reduced my load, and I can play more freely now."
The nimble-footed striker said the two sides are evenly matched.
"All games in tournaments at this level are tough. But I think Geylang are the strongest team," he said.
The team:
Sangram Mukherjee, Sandip Nandy, Sur Kumar Singh, Dipak Mondal, Mahesh Gawli, Debjit Ghosh, Sasthi Duley, Subhasish Roychowchury, Subhas Chakraborty, Chandan Das, S Malswamtluanga, Dipankar Roy, Alvito D'Cunha, Sujoy Dutta, Kulothungon, Bijen Singh, Baichung Bhutia, Mike Okoro, Christiano Junior and Surya Bikash Chakraborty.
Coach: Subhas Bhowmick
Manager: Swapan Bal
Doctor: S R Dasgupta.
