Al Shorta head coach Sami Trabelsi stresses the importance of a winning start against East Bengal, while captain Basam Sakhir Ahmed returns to Kolkata nine years after the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Kolkata, October 12: East Bengal FC’s return to continental football brings a different kind of challenge, and Al Shorta head coach Sami Trabelsi knows that the opening game could have a bigger impact on their AFC Champions League Two campaign than just three points.

The Iraqi side will face East Bengal in Kolkata on Tuesday, with Trabelsi making it clear that his team have come with one objective in mind: to win. With four teams competing in Group D, he believes there is little to separate them, making the points dropped or collected in the opening matches particularly important.

“I think there is not a big difference between the four teams. Whoever can win and get more points from the start of the group stage, I think they will qualify,” Trabelsi said during the pre-match press conference.

For Al Shorta, the challenge begins against an East Bengal side whose attacking quality has caught the coach’s attention. Trabelsi said his team had watched the Red And Gold Brigade’s recognised the individual ability within the squad, particularly in the final third. He also acknowledged East Bengal’s players recent outing against Brazil but insisted that a club fixture brings a different challenge.

For Al Shorta, the challenge will not be limited to East Bengal’s quality. The demanding schedule and travel involved in the competition could also test the Iraqi side. Trabelsi explained that his players are accustomed to training and playing in hot conditions, although the humidity in Kolkata presents a different experience.

The coach is not expecting an easy evening in Kolkata. Along with the quality of their opponents, Al Shorta must manage a demanding schedule as he shares, although he hopes the experience and cohesion his players have gained through regular matches will work in their favour.

Yet, there is little uncertainty about what Al Shorta want from their opening fixture.

“We come here to win, sure. We need this win for us, and we need this win for the future, because there is a hard game in the next week,” Trabelsi said.

For captain Basam Sakhir Ahmed, however, the trip to Kolkata carries a connection beyond the immediate demands of the competition. He was here for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, when he experienced the same city and stadium as a young player. Nine years later, he returns as Al Shorta’s captain, having already made 100 appearances for Iraq.

The setting may be familiar, but the responsibility is different. Ahmed is no longer the young player experiencing a World Cup in India; he now has the experience of international football behind him and the task of leading his side into an important continental fixture.

Ahmed said he was happy to return to India and believes his previous experience here gives him an idea of what to expect. His message ahead of the match was as direct as his coach’s.

“I am very happy to be here. I played here in 2017, so I have experience, of course,” Ahmed said, expressing his hope that Al Shorta would secure victory on Tuesday.

That familiarity with Kolkata could make the occasion special for the captain, but the priority remains the same for both him and Trabelsi. Al Shorta want to turn their preparation into an opening result, while East Bengal will look to use home support to make their return to the continental stage count.

For the visitors, the first test of their qualification campaign arrives against an opponent they respect, in a stadium their captain remembers. Now, Al Shorta must make the most of the opportunity.