Why will Mohammed Rashid play key role for East Bengal in AFC Champions League Two 2026-27 campaign?

He is set to captain the Red & Gold for their ACL Two.

East Bengal are poised to kick off their 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two campaign when they face Jordanian side Al-Hussein SC in their opening game on Wednesday (16 September, 2026).

The Torchbearers are in for a gruelling campaign in the group stages, where they will face off against tricky Asian opponents and need to bring their A-game to each clash to be able to get maximum points from it.

While the Kolkata side will need their domestic players to perform to their best in the matches, there will be utmost reliance on some of their experienced foreign players as well. In particular, their midfield general Mohammed Rashid will be particularly influential in how they can hold their own against formidable opponents in the AFC Champions League Two.

Rashid has proven to be a loyal outlet for them since joining last year, being the only foreigner from the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) winning squad to be retained.

The Palestinian midfielder has adapted to life at East Bengal really well, and has showcased a lot of heart and overall grit with his performances for them. Now, he’ll have to assume even more responsibilities to be able to play a key part for the Red & Gold Brigade in helping them get positive results in the AFC Champions League Two.

Here, we look at the ways how Rashid can be particularly crucial for the success of East Bengal in their continental campaign.

Unique threat from set-pieces

While Mohammed Rashid was never roped in by East Bengal for his ability to influence goals, he has been a breath of fresh air for their set-pieces ever since joining the club. The 31-year-old midfielder has proven himself as a unique threat for the Red & Gold Brigade when it comes to getting at the end of set-pieces or creating chances from them.

He has now evolved into a player who can take free kicks and corners, swinging in really inviting crosses into promising positions that help create big chances for his teammates.

What is also rather unpredictable about Rashid is when he’s not taking the set-pieces and trying to get to the end of them. He has showcased a rather interesting threat in trying to score volley goals after corners are sent to him outside the box.

The Palestinian midfielder is also pretty good at winning aerial duels, and that allows him to get to the end of crosses from such dead-ball situations pretty well too. Hence, he could be a thorn for opponents in the ACL Two, providing an extra goal threat for East Bengal in such set-piece situations and helping them score crucial goals from them.

Adaptability to tough matches’ intensity

Fortunately for East Bengal, Mohammed Rashid is a player who already has experience playing in a competition like the AFC Champions League Two. The Palestinian midfielder played in the competition when he was at Bali United in the 2023-24 season, featuring in seven continental matches for them.

He even managed three goal contributions (two goals, one assist) for Bali United in the ACL Two in that campaign, producing some really encouraging performances as they ended up finishing third in their group – but were at least able to get two wins out of six matches (both of which Rashid had scored in).

The 31-year-old midfielder knows how to adapt himself according to how difficult a match can be – tweaking aspects of his game to help his side in areas they’re struggling in. If East Bengal need extra defensive reliability in certain games, Rashid has the ability to drop back into deeper positions to protect his centre-backs – making crucial clearances and neutralising the threat of attacking players with tight marking.

But when East Bengal need goals, he can also switch his style to go on the attack – moving into the danger zones more unpredictably and getting involved in goals. It’s Rashid’s adaptability to situations that makes him a key asset for East Bengal and someone who can keep his teammates calm under pressure to possibly get positive results.

Energetic presence acting as motivator for East Bengal teammates

The rather admirable aspect about Mohammed Rashid is that he always tries to be the hardest worker for his team in a match, which often means having to cover the most miles on the pitch throughout the 90 minutes as well. The 31-year-old might’ve been troubled by injuries in recent campaigns, but that hasn’t forced him to tone down the energetic nature that he shows on the pitch.

Rashid is a player who is always looking to go the extra mile with his running, be it trying to close down an opposition player from passing the ball forward, making a crucial tackle or demanding a pass in a promising position in the opposition half.

He is never static or left standing, always looking to move around to create passing opportunities for teammates or to regain the ball from opponents. It’s Rashid’s highly energetic nature that should act as a motivational factor for his East Bengal teammates in the AFC Champions League Two.

He should be able to be a thorn for opponents with his defensive prowess and ability to win duels really well, while also allowing East Bengal to build moves better by being a reliable passing outlet in their midfield. In doing so, he should ensure that Torchbearers aren’t always forced to be on the back foot and show more fearlessness in taking the fight to their opponents.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.