AFC Cup Rival Watch : Mohun Bagan's opponents Maziya S&RC

The Mariners will re-ignite their AFC Cup rivalry with Maziya S&RC.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant will resume their AFC Cup 2023-24 campaign on Monday (2nd October) against Maziya S&RC. The ISL champions will hope for another resounding victory after their dominant 4-0 win over Odisha FC in the first matchweek. Similarly, the Maldivian champions will hope for a positive turnover after a resolute 3-1 triumph over Bashundhara Kings.

This will be the sixth time the two sides clash, with the Mariners overpowering Maziya in a 5-2 win and qualifying for the next round last season. Although Bagan did exit in the inter zonal semi-finals, they’re looking all the more potent this time around.

However, the Golden Boys are nothing short of the same themselves, arriving in the competition on the back of a domestic treble. The Indian champions will face off against the Maldivian victors in what is guaranteed to be a high-voltage clash. Here we look into what they can bring to the game.

About The Team

Established in 1996, Maziya S&RC are one of the most successful Maldivian sides to ever grace the game. The current champions have won all national tournaments more than once. They have won the Dhivehi Premier League and the Maldivian FA Charity Shield a record four times. Additionally, they also picked up the Maldivian FA Cup thrice.  

The Male-based side had met Mohun Bagan in the AFC Cup 2017, and surprisingly it was a reverse of the recent 5-2 defeat in their favor. Maziya went from strength to strength after their woeful group-stage exit in the AFC Cup 2022. They clinched the Dhivehi Premier League, Maldivian FA Cup as well as the Maldivian FA Charity Shield.

Additionally, they had a fruitful transfer window, securing the services of RFK Novi Sad duo Vojislav Balabanovic and Regan Obeng. They also signed midfielders Branimir Jocic, Tomoki Wada, and centre-back Sebastijan Antic. What made their transfer window even more astounding was that all their foreign incomings were signed on loans.  

Recent Performances

Maziya S&RC have had a commendable start to the season, winning seven out of their eight games and rising up to the second spot. They have an advantage over current league leaders Club Eagles as they have a game in hand. Despite the side drawing with them, the Golden Boys returned to winning ways against Super United Sports. The Maldivian champions scored thrice without a reply and got a clean-sheet in their bags alongside the win.

On the international front, things are looking equally bright, as they managed to overthrow Bangladeshi side Bashundhara Kings recently. Debutant left-winger Balabanovic began the scoring in that game, elaborating on his importance for his side.  

The Coach

Former Indonesian League winner Milomir Seslija was appointed to take charge at the helm in July this year. The Bosnian has had a perfect record so far, as his side won four of their five games and drew only once. Maziya have also conceded only thrice in three months so his work has surely had some groundbreaking progress.

The Indonesian Pro League and First League of FBiH champion has managed a whopping 15 sides before this. A UEFA Pro-licensed coach, “Milo” has managed his best points tally at Borneo FC and Arema Cronus. That of course has been eclipsed by his current teams’ staggering form.

With a treasure trove of experience, Seslija’s leadership will be vital for the Golden Boys moving forward. The 59-year-old tactician prefers a traditional 4-3-3 formation with a holding midfielder. His focal point of attack is generated by the inverted wingers who drift inside and allow the full-backs to operate freely in a wider role. Additionally, the defensive midfielder drops between the centre-backs to orchestrate play.

Players to Watch

Regan Obeng

The diminutive Ghanaian is actually one of the best destroyers to ply their trade at the Maldivian side. His no-nonsense tackling and organization of the team's defence has proved to be a talking point of Maziya’s defensive synergy this season.

The midfield enforcer has been responsible for turning the tempo of the game in his side's favour with a strong tackle more than once. Moreover, the Feyenoord Ghana graduate exudes composure with his laser-guided distribution. His role in midfield will be vital to manipulate the pace of the game and catch the Mariners by surprise. 

Stefan Mihajlovic

The Serbian striker is actually one of the biggest benefactors of the rich supply of chances that Seslija has ensured via the signings of numerous midfielders. From deep-lying destroyers like Regan to creative wizards like Tomoki Wada, the ball will almost always be at his feet.

Mihajlovic has not been firing on all fronts but against a compact side like Mohun Bagan, he can be crucial. His presence down the middle will be the David to Ferrando’s Goliath that distributes play down the wings to create a central overload. 

Vojislav Balabanovic

The left winger was a quiet arrival at the club but his performance against Basundhara Kings was one of sheer brilliance. Especially the way the winger picked the ball up 25 yards out and smashed home an unstoppable shot should frighten any opponent. 

The 27-year-old forward has a natural tenacity to drift into central positions. Combined with Mihajlovic, he can cause problems and make the Mariners pause and think. Dealing with him will need extra attention as his ability to identify unmanned spaces is unparalleled and can easily hurt Ferrando’s side.

What to Expect

Valued at only 19.2 Cr INR in comparison to Mohun Bagan's ginormous 66 Cr INR squad, Maziya S&RC are clearly the underdogs in this fixture. But they stand as the only other side with a win apart from the Green & Maroons.

Odisha FC have faltered in their opener and that will be a cue for the Golden Boys to stage an upset and have a share of the spoils if not all three points. The Mariners can easily sweep the Maldivian champions aside if they play the free-flowing, intense attacking brand of Juan Ferrando football. However, if they neglect Maziya’s individual threats, they are bound to be punished and might even be defeated on Monday.