Arnab Mondal: We want the I-League title

After finishing third last season, Kingfisher East Bengal’s old warhorse Arnab Mondal has set his eyes on winning the elusive I-League trophy ahead of the the 11th edition of the domestic league.

“If we win the I-League, it will be for the fans. They have been our support and have cheered for us through thick and thin."

After finishing third last season, Kingfisher East Bengal’s old warhorse Arnab Mondal has set his eyes on winning the elusive I-League trophy ahead of the the 11th edition of the domestic league, slated to kick-off from November 27.

“We want to win the I-League. It is as simple as that”, a confident Arnab Mondal said on the sidelines of the launch in the capital on Tuesday.

The Red and Golds have always been a title challenger the I-League but has always fallen in the final hurdle; it has three National Football League titles, a predecessor to the I-League.

The defender also said the fans deserve the title. “If we win the I-League, it will be for the fans. They have been our support and have cheered for us through thick and thin. They deserve to be rewarded and we are striving on giving this gift to our fans”

But certainly, it will be tough as the Kolkata outfit faces defending champion Aizawl FC in its opening fixture. “Every team in the I-League presents its own challenges. No team is easy and every team plays to win. The challenge for us is to outplay them and secure the results.

“The pressure is always there when you play at the highest level but if we win a couple of our opening matches and gather maximum points, we can breathe a little.

“We have to take one match at a time and at the same time aim for a win in every match we play including the away fixtures”, Mondal stated.