KOLKATA: Having served the national duty in Fiji colours for last month's World Cup qualifiers, Roy Krishna is back in the city hitting the ground running straightaway as ATK Mohun Bagan prepare for their AFC Cup qualifying campaign at home.
Krishna has been an integral part of ATK Bagan since their debut in India's premier league two seasons ago. But dogged by Covid-19 infection, the Fijian had a relatively low-key season in the just-concluded Indian Super League, scoring 7 goals in 16 matches, as ATK Mohun Bagan lost to eventual champions Hyderabad FC 2-3 on aggregate in the two-legged semifinals.
If a fit-again Krishna is ready for a new challenge, he is also drawing motivation from another corner: The possibility of playing in a front of spectators at the Salt Lake Stadium. With the state government having lifted the pandemic-related restrictions, there is no bar in allowing spectators back in the stands.
ATK Mohun Bagan will play their second round of qualifiers here on Tuesday (April 12), the opponents of which are yet to be identified.
"I'm excited to play in front of the fans. I have seen them on TV and YouTube and how they stand behind the team. We are thinking nothing but winning the match for the fans," Krishna said after returning to join the team's practice under Juan Ferrando on Tuesday.
"We are yet to know who would be our opponents. We must be ready for a tricky test because an unknown opponent is always dangerous," Krishna was quoted as saying by an ATKMB release.
ATKMB will take on the winners of the game between Machhindra FC of Nepal and Blue Star FC of Sri Lanka in the second round of qualifiers. A win will take them to the playoff round, where Ferrando's side will be up against the winners of the match between Dhaka Abahani and Paro FC/Club Valencia.
If Ferrando's team manage to win these two games, they can confirm their place in the group stage of the AFC Cup.
