Coronavirus
Coronavirus: ‘Homebound’ Mohun Bagan and East Bengal foreigners set to travel 1500 km by bus together
The way East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have come together, at a time like this, to try and help their players reach home, is certainly commendable.
In these uncertain times, when the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe, finally there is some positive news for the foreign footballers and coaches of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
With the virus outbreak, a countrywide lockdown was issued without any prior notice in the middle of March. Consequently, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal’s Spanish players, the two coaches (Kibu Vicuna and Mario Rivera), along with Bagan’s assistant coach, Polish national Tomasz Tchorz, physical trainer Paulius Ragauskas (Lithuania), and their family members, were forced to stay put in Kolkata, even though the season had ended.
Finally all the foreign individuals will be heading home on Saturday night but it is going to be a difficult journey.
The Bridge has been informed that with all domestic flights being suspended, these 16 foreign nationals will be travelling by bus to the capital, a distance of almost 1500 km. The contingent is expected to spend Sunday night in Varanasi, before reaching New Delhi the next day. The bus has been arranged by Mohun Bagan officials Srinjoy Bose and Debasis Dutta, with the help of the respective embassies.
From the capital, they will catch a special flight to Amsterdam in the early hours of Tuesday and then to their respective countries.
https://twitter.com/IndianFootball/status/1218062927925657600
Vicuna, who has already agreed to join Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Kerala Blasters ahead of the upcoming season, will travel to Warsaw from Amsterdam while East Bengal’s Rivera will travel to Madrid.
However, while 16 foreign nationals have finally found a way to go home, the likes of Baba Diawara (Senegal), Daneil Cyrus (Trinidad and Tobago), , Johnny Acosta (Costa Rica), Kassim Aidara (Senegal) among others will have to stay put in Kolkata as no arrangement has been made.
The two clubs have been known to be the fiercest of rivals since time immemorial. The way they have come together, at a time like this, to try and help their players reach home, is certainly commendable.
