Relief finally returned to the black-and-white camp. After a long wait, Mohammedan's FIFA ban has been lifted. According to reports, the traditional club has freed itself from this curse by spending over ten crore rupees. The officials of the black-and-white team have raised this enormous amount through their own initiative. At one point, it seemed that Mohammedan might never be able to compete on the international stage again. But cutting through that darkness, they are now walking towards a new dawn.
With the ban lifted, there are no more obstacles in team formation. Buying players, bringing foreign footballers—everything is now possible. However, this is where a new battle begins. The source of the enormous funds needed to build a good team remains unknown. The black-and-white officials know that teams cannot be built on emotion alone; a strong financial foundation is necessary. A letter has already been sent to the Chief Minister requesting sponsorship. No response to that letter has come from the government side yet. Still, the officials hope that the Chief Minister will surely make some arrangements at the last moment. Because Mohammedan is not just a club, but an irresistible symbol of Bengal's football passion.
The uncertainty surrounding ISL is actually working to Mohammedan's advantage. If everything had been in order, ISL might have progressed much further by now. In that situation, if Mohammedan had not participated, they would have faced the wrath of supporters. But the current circumstances seem to have come as a blessing for them. Now there is an opportunity to prove themselves anew, to restore supporters' confidence.
With Mohammedan's ban being lifted, the light of hope has once again ignited in supporters' eyes. There is only one question—can Mohammedan truly overcome the financial crisis and restore their former glory? Only time will provide the answer.
Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan's new coach Sergio Lobera has resolved his visa issues and arrived in the city late Tuesday night. He has been accompanied by his Polish assistant Igor Tasevski. After resting on Wednesday, he will begin training with the team on Thursday afternoon. However, not at the club's ground—Cummings, Subhashis and others will practice at the Salt Lake training center. Lobera, former coach of Barcelona's youth team, has achieved great success coaching in India since 2017. Between FC Goa and Mumbai City, he has won the ISL League Shield twice, the ISL Champion Trophy once, and the Super Cup once.
