ATK Mohun Bagan extend contract of Pritam Kotal

The right-back featured in every game across all competitions for the Mariners last season.

Pritam Kotal will be staying at ATK Mohun Bagan, the club announced on Friday. The new contract will keep the player with the Mariners till 2023. The right-back has been playing an integral role at ATK Mohun Bagan ever since the mentorship of Antonio Lopez Habas. Even last season, when Juan Ferrando joined as the head coach, the Spaniard kept faith in the 28-year-old. Surprisingly, Kotal has played all the games last season for ATK Mohun Bagan. Be it the Indian Super League or the AFC Cup, the defender has featured in every fixture. On many occasions, he also wore the captain’s armband for the Kolkata giant.

What did Pritam Kotal say after signing?

Pritam Kotal started his career at Mohun Bagan. A “Ghorer Chele” in the making, Kotal said, “Wearing the Green & Maroon jersey has a different feeling. In the upcoming season, we have this challenge to prove ourselves (to be the best) at the continental level. We have to give our best in order to win the AFC Cup Inter Zonal semi-final.”

The 28-year-old also spoke about the squad and the club’s target this season. He opined, “Our squad is even stronger this time. The club has signed three excellent foreigners. According to the squad we possess, I think it is possible for us to do well at the AFC Cup. Our target will be to win those competitions which we couldn’t last season.”

ATK Mohun Bagan’s preparations

ATK Mohun Bagan are set to start their pre-season on 30th July at the iconic Mohun Bagan ground in Maidan. Most of their players like Hugo Boumous, Liston Colaco have arrived. A few players will reach the city on 30th night. Head coach Juan Ferrando meanwhile, landed in Kolkata on Thursday morning.

The club’s aim this season will be to get a stellar result in the AFC Cup. They have built their team accordingly in order to achieve that feat. Players like Brendan Hamill and Florentin Pogba have been added to the squad. The upfront has seen the departure of Roy Krishna and David Williams. However, their boots will be filled by Dimitri Petratos. Meanwhile, the club has parted ways with centre-back Sandesh Jhingan.