After he scored both the goals in Feb 19 NFL tie against JCT in Ludhiana, Edmilson has become the cynosure of all eyes in East Bengal. Not without reason. Ever since East Bengal lost the services of Baichumg Bhutia beginning this season, it suffered several defeats in spite of playing well solely because it did not have a genuine striker who could convert the chances into goals. Baichung’s pairing with Junior during the 8th NFL season was perhaps one of the best striking-duo East Bengal ever had in recent times. [Edmilson’s picture left source]
This time, East Bengal did try quite a few foreign recruits, but none shone. In fact, it approached a striker of the recently-visited Sao Paulo team, but the transfer fee asked was too high for even a top Indian team like East Bengal to pay. And then came Edmilson Marques.
Brazil’s national team has had several Edmilsons’ in the past, the most recent being Edmilson Gomes, who donned national colors in their 2002 World Cup team, and currently plays for Spanish giant, FC Barcelona.
While Edmilson has apparently solved East Bengal’s woes for the present, Mohun Bagan on the other hand is not performing well despite having a dream team with Jose Barreto and Baichung Bhutia in their ranks.
The way Mohun Bagan has changed its coach twice in the current season, it’ll not be wrong to say that the club’s heads lack clear thinking. Nepotism rules roost, and as a result even a classy player of the caliber of Barreto is unable to perform.
One only hopes that its new coach, the mercurial forward of yesteryears, Chima Okerie, is able to turn the tide in its favor. Chima returns to his old club, this time as a coach, and he too like East Bengal’s Edmilson is at the center of all attractions. Good if he succeeds. If not, then Mohun Bagan will have to forget winning NFL this season.
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