KOLKATA, MARCH 25
India captain and East Bengal forward Bhaichung Bhutia, recovering from a hamstring injury, will take two more weeks to be match fit, the red-and-gold coach Philippe de Ridder said here today.
“He may get fit within a week but it will take him one more week to attain match fitness. We will watch and see before taking a decision on him,” de Ridder said during their team’s practice this morning.
East Bengal are without a win for last 12 matches and have suffered three successive losses in the AFC Cup.
Bhutia suffered the injury during their round 16 I-League match against Mahindra United as the star striker could not travel with the team for their AFC Cup tie against Al Nejmeh in Lebanon.
Later, Bhutia missed an I-League match against Air India and then against Al Qadsia of Kuwait in their AFC Cup match yesterday.
Meanwhile, the IFA has postponed East Bengal’s Calcutta Football League fixture against Kalighat which was scheduled for tomorrow. IFA is yet to announce a new date.
