Will East Bengal put domestic woes behind when it faces Arkadag?
The Hindu
East Bengal FC aims to bounce back domestically by defeating FK Arkadag in AFC Challenge League quarterfinals.
East Bengal FC will look to overcome its recent failure on the domestic stage with a good performance internationally when it meets Turkmenistan’s FK Arkadag in the first leg of the AFC Challenge League quarterfinals at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday.
With Mohun Bagan SG bowing out of the AFC Champions League Two earlier, East Bengal remains the only Indian side in the continental championship.
Given its situation, East Bengal will be eager to win at home and secure early advantage before it travels to Arkadag for the return leg on March 12. Head coach Oscar Bruzon, who helped East Bengal qualify to the knockouts after a fine performance in the group league stage in Bhutan, felt that the team will be able to put behind its recent disappointments.
“We were going through a lot of issues in the current season. But following the recent performance of our boys, I feel that we will have a nice game against Arkadag,” Bruzon said.

Terming the allegations of the Opposition BJP that the Congress government had illegally diverted and misused the funds meant for the welfare of Dalits under SCSP-TSP as “false and misleading”, RDPR and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday made clear that these funds had been “legally” transferred to guarantee schemes for “exclusive” use of SC/ST beneficiaries in proportion to their population size. These funds will never be used for beneficiaries of other communities, he asserted.

A total of 3,464 pilgrims had registered to participate in the annual festival being held at the famous St. Antony’s Church in Katchatheevu, said organisers here on Tuesday. The church was established by the fishermen of India and Sri Lanka way back in 1913 St. Antony was worshipped as a protector of the fishermen and the fishermen offer prayers at the church as a mark of thanksgiving to the God for proving them good produce.