Rival Watch: Who are Mohun Bagan Super Giant's AFC Cup opponents Machhindra FC

Machhindra FC finished as runners-up in Nepal’s ‘A’ Division League last season

Mohun Bagan Super Giant are set to get their 2023 AFC Cup campaign underway when they take on Nepal side Machhindra FC in the Preliminary Qualifier at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, on August 16. The Mariners are coming off a damning loss to East Bengal at the Kolkata Derby and aim to bounce back against this spirited continental opposition.

Machhindra have had to fight their way to this position and defeated Bhutan side Paro FC in the previous round to earn this bout against the iconic Indian side. They earned this place thanks to a second-place finish in the Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League (Nepal’s top division) last time around and earned the reputation for being an exciting squad with lots of attacking pedigree.

With Mohun Bagan SG poised to start their continental journey against the Nepali heavyweights, we look at what can be expected from them.

About the Team

Machhindra FC was founded in 1973 and is based out of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. The club has actually been renamed twice in its history: in 2004 (as Macchindra Bahal Club) and Macchindra Energizer FC in 2006. Now, they are just known as Machhindra FC and are among the major teams in Nepal.

However, the club has only started to perform at the highest level over the last four years or so. They have won the Nepal top division twice over the last four seasons and also won the KP Oil Cup earlier this year. Machhindra FC also has some of the Nepal national team stars, like Bimal Gharti Magar.

Recent Performances

Machhindra FC won their previous game in the AFC Cup Preliminary Round 1 with a thrilling 3-2 win over Paro FC to move onto this stage. In the game, their domestic stars Bimal Magar and Ayush Ghalan both got on the score sheet, as did star Nigerian forward Afeez Oladipo.

Before that, they had last played a competitive game in June, when the Nepal top division was still going on. The Nepali heavyweight had a solid finish to the campaign, winning four of their last five league games in style. They won their last four games in a row, scoring 11 goals in them and putting on an impressive display for the fans.

They ended their league campaign with a 3-1 win over Manang Marshyangdi FC, who faced off against Chennaiyin FC and Minerva Punjab in the 2019 AFC Cup group stages.

The Coach

Kishore KC took over Machhindra FC earlier this year and assumed his role as their head coach in March, and he has proven to be quite a solid fit for them ever since. He helped the players raise their performance levels after his arrival, helping them play more efficient attacking football.

A major reason for Machhindra having such a thrilling end to their league campaign and scoring so many goals is due to Kishore’s system. He has decent management experience in his career, having also served as the head coach for Nepali side Jawalakhel Youth Club in the past.

Kishore loves encouraging an attacking system and his players to always play on the front foot. He prefers to play the 4-3-3 formation as a result, urging his forwards to play way higher up the pitch and use width to create their attacking moves.

Of course, there might be a need for some tinkering, knowing Mohun Bagan’s attacking pedigree, but the 58-year-old gaffer won’t let his side be bullied or cower down against the Mariners. He believes in entertaining and attacking football and is unlikely to try shutting the door on Mohun Bagan by parking the bus.

Players to Watch

Afeez Oladipo

Nigerian forward Afeez Oladipo is an experienced candidate in the Nepal football scene, having played for a host of Nepali clubs like Manang Marshyangdi, Dhangadhi, and Three Star Club. He only joined Machhindra FC midway through last season but proved to be a major hit for them.

The 28-year-old scored 23 goals in the Nepal first division last season, winning the Golden Boot by quite a surmountable margin. He also scored in the win over Paro FC and is one of their biggest threats in the attack.

Oladipo is a clinical finisher who is pretty good with both his feet and head. He can finish off chances in the final third with ease unless marked properly, with his link-up play and off-the-ball movement being quite dangerous too. The 28-year-old will look to trouble the Mariners’ backline by being a pest in the final third and pounce on any chances they’re able to create.

Bimal Gharti Magar

One of the best players on the Nepal national team, Bimal Gharti Magar, actually has some personal history with Mohun Bagan. Indeed, he spent a chunk of the 2017-18 season with them but was only able to make three appearances in which he bagged an assist.

The 24-year-old is actually quite an experienced individual despite his age. He was part of the FC Twente academy in the past and also spent some time as part of Anderlecht and KRC Genk’s youth systems. Magar has spent most of his professional career in his home country and has been a reliable outlet for club and county.

He helped them win two back-to-back league titles from 2019–2021, as well as the cup competition earlier this year. Magar is a standout at the national level, having scored nine goals in 37 appearances for them.

The 24-year-old is a tricky winger who is blessed with pace and the ability to dribble past opponents with ease. Not only can he carry the ball forward well, but he is innovative with his delivery and often positions himself in the right place at the right time to get to the end of chances. He will look to do that against Mohun Bagan, hurting them in the breaks and getting a big win for Machhindra.

What to Expect

Machhindra FC are coming into this game as firm underdogs, and not many are expecting them to produce any sort of miracle. Their squad strength, value, or depth is nowhere close to Mohun Bagan, and the quality of foreign players is also quite surmountable between the teams.

But Machhindra won’t come to Kolkata just to get a participation trophy, and they’ll look to use their underdog tag to their advantage. They will mostly have to play on the back foot, and every player will need to work their socks off to frustrate Mohun Bagan, but Machhindra will not be afraid to attack the Mariners.

They should look to create chances on counter-attacks and breaks, with their head coach encouraging fast-paced, attacking football at all times. Even though they are unlikely to pop a surprise, Machhindra FC could raise a few eyebrows with their hard-working, attack-minded nature and could give Mohun Bagan SG a real run for their money.

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