Their entry into the Indian Super League (ISL) was nothing short of dramatic. But now that they have entered the arena, SC East Bengal must put their best foot forward. The competition is intense and though it is just their debut season, fan-pressure will be immense on them.

East Bengal did not have a lot of time to plan and prepare, but within a very short period, the team management seems to have done exceedingly well in getting their house in order. First they brought in Robbie Fowler as the coach and then the former Liverpool star did his bit in recruiting the foreign players.

As most of the domestic players were selected before investor Shree Cement came in, East Bengal will be heavily dependent on their foreign recruits.

Scottish defender Danny Fox and midfielders Anthony Pilkington and Jacques Maghoma have played for English clubs throughout their career. It will be a different challenge for them in Indian conditions.

The other three foreign recruits — defender Scott Neville, midfielder Matti Steinmann and striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway — are known faces from the A-League. Neville and Holloway played for Brisbane Roar, where Fowler was the coach last season.

East Bengal started their pre-season training later than the other teams. But coach Fowler feels that they are on the right track. Fowler’s primary focus is on playing competitive football.

“The opportunity to coach SC East Bengal in their first ISL season is brilliant. The ISL is a league I have looked out for many years. Football has been getting better over the years here. Every year the competition gets stronger. My aim with SC East Bengal this year is to get as competitive as we can and try to do as well as we can in the league,” Fowler said.

Domestic angle

Among their domestic recruits, East Bengal have a few who are desperate to prove a point or two. After a lengthy injury layoff, striker Jeje Lalpekhlua has got a chance to prove himself. Balwant Singh, another Indian striker, didn’t have a great season with ATK in 2019-2020. He too would be aiming for a strong comeback.

Goalkeeping is an area of concern though. Former Bagan and ATK custodian Debjit Majumder is with East Bengal this time and he would face a tough test under the woodwork.

Fan power

SC East Bengal’s biggest strength is of course their fan base.

“East Bengal have a lot of history and probably have the best fans in Indian football. When these fans join the ISL, it makes for a great team. I know how passionate the fans are and I have learnt a lot about the club already. It is definitely a challenge, but it is one that I will gratefully accept because I feel I can do well here,” Fowler said.

East Bengal play their first match against ATK Mohun Bagan on November 27. A cracking match to start their ISL journey. One feels that their first match will set the tone for the rest of the season.