Kolkata: Mohun Bagan SG coach Sergio Lobera is not going to take Inter Kashi for granted when the two square off at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday as the struggling debutants prepare to finish the remainder of the season without their head coach Antonio Lopez Habas.Ahead of the match, Habas announced his decision on social media, apparently against the backdrop of continued uncertainty over Indian football. “Trust is built through keeping commitments, and unfortunately, when those commitments are not fulfilled, trust is lost,” Habas posted. “Together, we achieved the objectives set by the management: Winning the I-League, earning promotion to the ISL, and ensuring the club remains in the top tier of professional football in India.” In the veteran Spaniard’s absence, former India goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal would boss the Inter Kashi dugout. The rivalry between Lobera and Habas — especially during their reigns at Mumbai City FC and now-defunct Atletico de Kolkata — is still considered a highlight of the ISL’s brief history. Lobera would miss his fellow Spaniard, but for the Bagan coach, it’s now more about setting his own house in order than looking towards in the rivals’ dugout as stakes are getting higher for the defending champions on the home stretch of the abridged league. Bagan are coming into the game with a hard-fought draw at FC Goa and Lobera knows that anything other than win will tilt the title race in arch-rivals East Bengal’s way. With Bagan scheduled to face East Bengal on Sunday in their penultimate game, Lobera turned his focus to the Inter Kashi match. “Everyone knows that he (Habas) is a winning coach with a winning mentality. But it will be a big mistake if we are not giving over 100% against them. I know very well how the situation is for Inter Kashi players but on the pitch they are going to compete at the highest level because they are going to compete for themselves, for their family, for their future,” Lobera said.
