ATK Mohun Bagan announce final squad for AFC Cup, Joni Kauko misses out

Indian Super League runners-up from last season, ATK Mohun Bagan have announced their squad for the upcoming AFC Cup. Head coach Antonio Lopez Habas had the big task of choosing his four foreign players and he has finally made up his mind.

It was pretty clear that Fiji international Roy Krishna will get the callup as he is probably the most prized asset in this team. Big money signing Hugo Boumous has also made the cut alongside versatile midfielder Carl McHugh and Australian forward David Williams. The former Wellington Phoenix man fills up the quota of the AFC registered player.

The squad is filled with several star players and looks in good stead for the continental tournament scheduled in the Maldives. New signings Liston Colaco, Bidyananda Singh and Amrinder Singh have all made it to the final list. Surprisingly former Indian Arrows midfielder Ricky Shabong who was on trial at ATK Mohun Bagan also got in alongside Mohun Bagan academy player Kiyan Nassiri. Kiyan is also the son of Iranian footballer Jamshed Nassiri who plied his trade for both Mohammedan SC and later East Bengal.

Some big players also missed out, namely India international and star defender Sandesh Jhingan. The Punjab born centre back has left the Mariners to join Croatian outfit HNK Sibenik. While Jhingan’s absence will be a massive blow for Habas and his team, it is still good for Jhingan as he is pursuing an opportunity to play abroad.

While Jhingan’s exclusion was forced, the biggest shock was Joni Kauko’s absence from the final squad. The Finnis midfielder who featured for his country at the Euros 2020 was the talk of the town but unfortunately, the supporters will have to wait to see him in action for the Green and Maroon army.

Players like Prabir Das, Pranoy Halder and Michael Soosairaj have also failed to make the final squad. Soosairaj might still not be in his best physical condition after suffering a massive injury last season.

The final squad for AFC Cup:

Goalkeepers: Arindam Bhattacharya, Amrinder Singh, Avilash Paul.

Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Subhasish Bose, Ashutosh Mehta, Sumit Rathi.

Midfielders: Carl McHugh, Bidyananda Singh, Lenny Rodrigues, Engson Singh, Sheikh Sahil, Deepak Tangri, Ricky Shabong.

Forwards: Liston Colaco, Abhishek Suryavanshi, Kiyan Nassiri, Manvir Singh, David Williams, Hugo Boumous, Roy Krishna.