East Bengal plans to hold pre-season camp abroad

The East Bengal coaching staff has requested club authorities to organize a pre-season camp abroad, as the red and gold brigade aims to win the I-League for the first time in 14 years.

In a bid to get its hands on a first I-League trophy in 14 years, East Bengal could make history by holding a pre-season camp abroad.

East Bengal is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations for the I-League season. The Kolkata club appointed former Real Madrid ‘B’ team coach Alejandro Menendez as head coach last month, and now the coaching staff has requested club authorities to organize a pre-season camp abroad.

While the venue hasn't been decided, sources indicate Spain or Thailand to be possible destinations.

“The talks are on but nothing has been decided yet. We are likely to take a final call in a couple of days,” senior club official Debabarta Sarkar told  Sportstar  .

Former India international and club official Alvito D’Cunha indicated that the camp could be organised in the northeast or Goa, in case the overseas plans don’t work out.

Traditionally, the I-League clubs from Kolkata conducted pre-season camps in the outskirts—Kalyani or Siliguri. “It does not matter if we have the camp in Goa or somewhere in Northeast or even in Spain, but the fact that an I-League club is willing to take such an initiative is a big development,” Alvito said.

It has become commonplace for Indian Super League (ISL) teams to have pre-season camps abroad. In a bid to get its hands on a first I-League trophy in 14 years, East Bengal could make history by holding a pre-season camp abroad.