Indian football is on the cusp of a historic campaign right now. Major tournaments like the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in China awaiting the national team. For the latter, India is pitted against fancied favourites like Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in the group stage.

Defensive mainstay and one the most notable names in the current setup, Pritam Kotal, who has 52 caps for the Blue Tigers and led the Mohun Bagan Super Giant to the Indian Super League (ISL) title last season, believes that the league has instilled significant fearlessness amongst Indian players. Kotal says that the exposure that youngsters have garnered by rubbing shoulders with their international counterparts has honed them to execute a spirited style of football for the national team.

“See now, the mindset of the players has changed a lot. The quality of the training has changed, and even the players now know what they are supposed to do according to who they are playing against. And for me, whenever we play in the ISL, whichever foreigner is there in front of us, we play without fear. This is a new development that whoever is in front of us, we will compete,” Kotal claims in a recent episode of ‘In the Stands’.&nbsp;

Further, the 29-year-old hails the impact of the various tacticians at the helm of different ISL outfits, mentioning that their philosophies reflect in the performances delivered by the Indian side lately.

“And there is also the influence of coaches. How the coaches give confidence to a player – build up, pass – whatever will happen, we will deal with it. But it’s important to play how we want to. So this is a change since 2015 when we started the Asian Cup qualifiers for the first time. The process started then, and now you will see the way we are playing. This is good for the national team, and good for the individual players as well,” Kotal adds.

After a successful stint with the Mariners, Kotal secured a high-profile transfer to the Kerala Blasters FC last month for the upcoming season. The defender rounded off his stay with the iconic Kolkata club on a high and is now eagerly looking forward to the fresh environment awaiting him in Kochi.

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“Last season was difficult for us but despite that we became champions. This was the first time I won the trophy as a captain and doing that whilst wearing the Mohun Bagan shirt was a big achievement for me. But suddenly, there was a movement (in the transfer market). At that time, my only thought was – this is a new challenge for me. Because I had played in Kolkata for many years now. Let’s try new things, new challenges, and a new atmosphere! The club supported me a lot. So it was fine, a mutual decision. And I am feeling good being here. Let’s see what lies ahead of us,” Kotal signs off.

Kotal has been one of the standout stars since the commencement of the ISL. He was the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Emerging Player of the Year in 2015. He is a three-time ISL title winner, one-time I-League champion, two-time Hero Intercontinental Cup victor, and has been a part of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship-winning squad thrice. However, nothing matches the challenge that the national side will face in the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup and Kotal reiterates that the players will leave no stone unturned in giving it their all and more on the pitch.

“As players, we are confident that we will do something different this year. And we will try to do that both individually, and as a team as well as when we start the camps. We will have the King’s Cup, Merdeka Cup, and a few friendlies. So I just want to tell the fans to stick with us. Support the Indian team. Whoever we play, we will not be intimidated. We will go face to face and fight. Be it Australia, Uzbekistan, or Syria. This, I am telling you today,” Kotal explains.

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Indian football is on the cusp of a historic campaign right now. Major tournaments like the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in China awaiting the national team.

Indian football is on the cusp of a historic campaign right now. Major tournaments like the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in China awaiting the national team. For the latter, India is pitted against fancied favourites like Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in the group stage. Defensive mainstay and one the most notable names in the current setup, Pritam Kotal, who has 52 caps for the Blue Tigers and led the Mohun Bagan Super Giant to the Indian Super League (ISL) title last season, believes that the league has instilled significant fearlessness amongst Indian players. Kotal says that the exposure that youngsters have garnered by rubbing shoulders with their international counterparts has honed them to execute a spirited style of football for the national team. “See now, the mindset of the players has changed a lot. The quality of the training has changed, and even the players now know what they are supposed to do according to who they are playing against. And for me, whenever we play in the ISL, whichever foreigner is there in front of us, we play without fear. This is a new development that whoever is in front of us, we will compete,” Kotal claims in a recent episode of ‘In the Stands’. Further, the 29-year-old hails the impact of the various tacticians at the helm of different ISL outfits, mentioning that their philosophies reflect in the performances delivered by the Indian side lately. “And there is also the influence of coaches. How the coaches give confidence to a player – build up, pass – whatever will happen, we will deal with it. But it’s important to play how we want to. So this is a change since 2015 when we started the Asian Cup qualifiers for the first time. The process started then, and now you will see the way we are playing. This is good for the national team, and good for the individual players as well,” Kotal adds. After a successful stint with the Mariners, Kotal secured a high-profile transfer to the Kerala Blasters FC last month for the upcoming season. The defender rounded off his stay with the iconic Kolkata club on a high and is now eagerly looking forward to the fresh environment awaiting him in Kochi. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma needs to be more aggressive: Kapil Dev advises Indian captain, cites Bazball's example “Last season was difficult for us but despite that we became champions. This was the first time I won the trophy as a captain and doing that whilst wearing the Mohun Bagan shirt was a big achievement for me. But suddenly, there was a movement (in the transfer market). At that time, my only thought was – this is a new challenge for me. Because I had played in Kolkata for many years now. Let’s try new things, new challenges, and a new atmosphere! The club supported me a lot. So it was fine, a mutual decision. And I am feeling good being here. Let’s see what lies ahead of us,” Kotal signs off. Kotal has been one of the standout stars since the commencement of the ISL. He was the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Emerging Player of the Year in 2015. He is a three-time ISL title winner, one-time I-League champion, two-time Hero Intercontinental Cup victor, and has been a part of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship-winning squad thrice. However, nothing matches the challenge that the national side will face in the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup and Kotal reiterates that the players will leave no stone unturned in giving it their all and more on the pitch. “As players, we are confident that we will do something different this year. And we will try to do that both individually, and as a team as well as when we start the camps. We will have the King’s Cup, Merdeka Cup, and a few friendlies. So I just want to tell the fans to stick with us. Support the Indian team. Whoever we play, we will not be intimidated. We will go face to face and fight. Be it Australia, Uzbekistan, or Syria. This, I am telling you today,” Kotal explains. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ISL has made Indian players fearless which will help us in Asian Cup campaign - Pritam Kotal

Many footballers face rather difficult times when they need to go under the knife to correct injuries sustained on the pitch. It is not only the physical recovery that they have to deal with, but they are also constantly mindful of the uncertainty of the recovery process, and how long it could take. 
 
However, even in such trying times, the ‘Beautiful Game’ has its own way of bringing people together. Bangladesh National Football Team striker Nabib Newaj Jibon had come across the border to Kolkata for surgery earlier in April, only to find a guardian angel in someone who he barely knew prior to this trip to the ‘City of Joy.’ 
 
“I never really knew Pritam-da (Kotal, India National Team defender) personally, before this trip to Kolkata,” Jibon said to aiff.com.

"Yes, I had heard about him. I have played against him for my National Team. But we were never properly acquainted.” 
 
In fact, it was one of Jibon’s teammates from the National Team, Raihan Hasan, who introduced the Bangladesh striker with the Blue Tigers defender.

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“I’ve been well acquainted with Mamunul-bhai (Islam) and Raihan. In fact, it was Raihan, who took a lot of initiative and approached me about Jibon. I was told that he was coming to Kolkata, and requested me to look after him during his stay here,” said Pritam. 
 
Pritam instantly agreed to help out his fellow footballer from across the border. “Of course, if someone comes across the border, we need to take care of him. We may be from different countries, but at the end of the day we are all from the footballing community, and we need to take care of each other,” said Pritam.

“He’s like a brother from across the border.” 
 
Once Jibon was in Kolkata, he had set up at a hotel that was quite close to Pritam’s house, and the latter, along with his girlfriend Sonela Paul left no stone unturned to help Jibon. 
 
“Pritam-da and Sonela-di both provided so much support when I was there in Kolkata,” Jibon mentioned. “The main thing that they provided me was the mental support. That was very important -- especially because I was in a city where I did not know anybody.”

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“They used to visit me every day at the hospital, and at my hotel. I could not move around much after my surgery. But they would often come around and get different things for me – whatever I’d require. They’d even check on whether I’ve had my meals properly every day, and that meant a lot,” Jibon continued. 
 
While Pritam could not go visit Jibon towards the end of the latter’s stay due to certain COVID-safety protocols in his locality, it was Sonela who stepped up and made sure that the Bangladesh striker was able to get back across the border, despite the fact that his flight was cancelled. 
 
Pritam sent his driver and his car along with Sonela, to pick up Jibon and take him all the way to the India-Bangladesh border in Benapole, near the town of Bongaon. 
 
“We also contacted the Petrapole immigration authorities and, got a permission from them. The BSF at Benapol also helped a lot. They reached in the morning, but there was a long wait till the evening, and finally he was allowed to cross the border,” said Pritam. “There were some difficulties, but the good thing is that the surgery was successful, and that he was able to get back across the border without much hassle.” 
 
Jibon’s club Basundhara Kings are set to play against Pritam’s side ATK Mohun Bagan in the AFC Cup in May, whereas Bangladesh are set to play India in the World Cup Qualifier in Qatar, later this year. While the now recovering Jibon may be out of contention for both the matches, the two footballers who had forged a strong friendship in this short period of time, are looking forward to face each other on the pitch once again. 
 
“Since his operation was successful, I’d very much like to see him return to the pitch soon. Even if he can’t return in time for the AFC Cup matches, it’s not that big a deal. I just hope that he gets well soon and can return to the pitch. It will be great to play against him. I pray to God for his speedy recovery,” said Pritam.

Many footballers face rather difficult times when they need to go under the knife to correct injuries sustained on the pitch. It is not only the physical recovery that they have to deal with, but they are also constantly mindful of the uncertainty of the recovery process, and how long it could take.

Many footballers face rather difficult times when they need to go under the knife to correct injuries sustained on the pitch. It is not only the physical recovery that they have to deal with, but they are also constantly mindful of the uncertainty of the recovery process, and how long it could take. However, even in such trying times, the ‘Beautiful Game’ has its own way of bringing people together. Bangladesh National Football Team striker Nabib Newaj Jibon had come across the border to Kolkata for surgery earlier in April, only to find a guardian angel in someone who he barely knew prior to this trip to the ‘City of Joy.’ “I never really knew Pritam-da (Kotal, India National Team defender) personally, before this trip to Kolkata,” Jibon said to aiff.com. "Yes, I had heard about him. I have played against him for my National Team. But we were never properly acquainted.” In fact, it was one of Jibon’s teammates from the National Team, Raihan Hasan, who introduced the Bangladesh striker with the Blue Tigers defender. ALSO READ: 'They urgently need our help': Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos expresses concerns about India's COVID-19 crisis “I’ve been well acquainted with Mamunul-bhai (Islam) and Raihan. In fact, it was Raihan, who took a lot of initiative and approached me about Jibon. I was told that he was coming to Kolkata, and requested me to look after him during his stay here,” said Pritam. Pritam instantly agreed to help out his fellow footballer from across the border. “Of course, if someone comes across the border, we need to take care of him. We may be from different countries, but at the end of the day we are all from the footballing community, and we need to take care of each other,” said Pritam. “He’s like a brother from across the border.” Once Jibon was in Kolkata, he had set up at a hotel that was quite close to Pritam’s house, and the latter, along with his girlfriend Sonela Paul left no stone unturned to help Jibon. “Pritam-da and Sonela-di both provided so much support when I was there in Kolkata,” Jibon mentioned. “The main thing that they provided me was the mental support. That was very important -- especially because I was in a city where I did not know anybody.” ALSO READ: Sport unites for social media boycott against online abuse “They used to visit me every day at the hospital, and at my hotel. I could not move around much after my surgery. But they would often come around and get different things for me – whatever I’d require. They’d even check on whether I’ve had my meals properly every day, and that meant a lot,” Jibon continued. While Pritam could not go visit Jibon towards the end of the latter’s stay due to certain COVID-safety protocols in his locality, it was Sonela who stepped up and made sure that the Bangladesh striker was able to get back across the border, despite the fact that his flight was cancelled. Pritam sent his driver and his car along with Sonela, to pick up Jibon and take him all the way to the India-Bangladesh border in Benapole, near the town of Bongaon. “We also contacted the Petrapole immigration authorities and, got a permission from them. The BSF at Benapol also helped a lot. They reached in the morning, but there was a long wait till the evening, and finally he was allowed to cross the border,” said Pritam. “There were some difficulties, but the good thing is that the surgery was successful, and that he was able to get back across the border without much hassle.” Jibon’s club Basundhara Kings are set to play against Pritam’s side ATK Mohun Bagan in the AFC Cup in May, whereas Bangladesh are set to play India in the World Cup Qualifier in Qatar, later this year. While the now recovering Jibon may be out of contention for both the matches, the two footballers who had forged a strong friendship in this short period of time, are looking forward to face each other on the pitch once again. “Since his operation was successful, I’d very much like to see him return to the pitch soon. Even if he can’t return in time for the AFC Cup matches, it’s not that big a deal. I just hope that he gets well soon and can return to the pitch. It will be great to play against him. I pray to God for his speedy recovery,” said Pritam.

'Brothers from across the border': Pritam Kotal lends a helping hand to Bangladesh striker Jibon

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ISL has made Indian players fearless which will help us in Asian Cup campaign - Pritam Kotal

'Brothers from across the border': Pritam Kotal lends a helping hand to Bangladesh striker Jibon