Despite the elimination, the team’s senior players like Basudeb Mondal, Mike Okoro and Jyothi Kumar made no bones of the fact that they are relieved more than anything else. Said Mondal, after the day’s play: “Our performance was mediocre in today’s match. We applied pressure on our fancied opponents throughout the match, and we were able to create chances that could not be converted.”

However, looking forward to the first phase of I-League qualifiers, which will commence on March 25 in Guwahati, Mondal feels that the team should change its strategy of playing five defenders and single striker formation.

“I feel our experienced coach will change the tactics and play with a double striker upfront from now on. And then only we will be able to display some sharpness in our attacks. Otherwise, Okoro is easily getting trapped by the opposition defenders while moving up, as he is not getting good enough support during the team’s attacking moves.” Coach Shabbir Ali has given his boys some much needed rest for the next five days before beginning preparations for the I-League qualifiers. Incidentally, Ogba Kalou and Jason Vales scored for Churchill Brothers today. Both the goals were scored after the break.

In another bad day in office for Kolkata football, East Bengal bowed out of the IFA Shield with a 1-1 draw against South African premier side Santos FC at Howrah Corporation Municipal Stadium today.