Picture: I-League Media
Internet Desk | 01/12/2017
Mohun Bagan are on a mission to exorcise past demons and with the season’s first derby looming large they would like to move forward on a positive note after conceding a late draw against Minerva Punjab FC.
On the sidelines of the official launch ceremony of the Hero I-League 2017-18, www.the-aiff.com caught up with the talismanic Sony Norde and he hopes ‘Mohun Bagan can win the league’ this season.
“Let’s hope for good football and let’s hope Mohun Bagan can win the league”
The Haitian international was quick to admit the errors of the seasons gone by and he expected the team to learn from them, “After two seasons of making mistakes and finishing second. This season we want to learn from our mistakes and regain the championship.”
Victory, as well as defeat, is a part of professional football. But what matters is how you respond to the lows and what you learn from them, “It was a very disappointing phase for all Mohun Bagan supporters and the team, especially last year. Our mistake was losing so many points in our away games. As professionals, we have to carry on but it is a bad feeling to come so close only to fall at the last hurdle.”
“The coach, the staff and the players have talked to each other and we want to win more away games. Let’s hope we can do better than last time around”, he stated in a matter of fact manner.
Apart from the hopes of millions of fans, Norde is also the highest paid player in the Hero I-League this season, “No it’s all normal. It’s not more pressure but more responsibility for me. The coach has made be the captain. It’s all about the team winning games and me scoring goals.”
“Everyone is expecting things from you. You just have to keep working hard and try to make the fans happy”, he quipped.
“I had few offers and even the money was good but I chose to stay with Mohun Bagan. I took the decision keeping me and my family in mind”, a player of his calibre receives a lot of offers but Sony chose to continue his partnership with the Kolkata giant.
“Mohun Bagan was the first team to give me the opportunity to play in India, the support I receive from the officials, the fans and also the love and affection I get from everyone. It was an easy choice to make”, he adds.
With a changed environment and a fresh setup, Sony thinks it will be a good opportunity for newer players to flourish, “I think the young players need opportunities to prove themselves. They can certainly improve and we at Mohun Bagan will play like they we know to play. Players will get chances and with so many new players, I think the league will be difficult as everyone has to adapt”, was how he described it.
Coach Sanjay Sen has built the team around him and this year Sony had been made the captain of the side, the partnership has certainly grown over the years with mutual respect and admiration. “I have to thank him (Sanjay Sen) for believing in me. He knows me well and I am ready for the all the challenges. He has given this responsibility on my shoulders and I have to take charge of that”, the green and maroon poster boy signed off.
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