As EXCLUSIVELY reported by InsideSport.IN earlier, Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s fixture in the AFC Cup 2023-24 against Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings has been moved to Bhubaneswar and will be held at the Kalinga stadium on October 24. Mohun Bagan vs Basundhara Kings will kick off at 9:30 PM IST.
East Bengal FC have also seen their match against FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) shifted to Bhubaneswar and now the Mariners will host the Bangladesh side in Odisha’s capital.
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Juan Ferrando’s side have a perfect record in the AFC Cup having beaten Odisha FC and Maziya in the first two matches and will take on Bashundhara Kings who sit third in their group in the next match.
The Mariners will be looking to a get step closer to the next round by securing a victory against the Kings in the next match and thus qualify for the knockout stages of the AFC Cup for a third year running. However, the Kings will present ISL 2022-23 Cup winners a test having already beaten Odisha FC in the last fixture.
The justification for the alteration is apparent. The 24th of October marks the end of the Durga Puja, also known as Dashami or Dussehra. It will be a nightmare for the Kolkata Police to provide appropriate protection at the stadium that day. With the idols being submerged on the same day, the celebration presents a significant danger to the match being staged in Kolkata. Furthermore, the West Bengal Sports Ministry has ordered that the Salt Lake Stadium stay closed for the month of October.