Unfazed Bengaluru FC depart for Maldives for AFC Cup clash despite MEA warning

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Bengaluru, February 11: Indian Super League leaders Bengaluru FC on Sunday (February 11) left for Male City despite a Ministry of External Affairs warning to defer their travel to the conflict-ridden Maldives islands.

Bengaluru FC are scheduled to play the first leg of their AFC Cup play-off clash against Maldivian side Trust and Care Sports Club in Male on Tuesday (February 13). They left by a 2.50 pm flight to Male.

Just before their departure, BFC were warned by the MEA to not board the flight to Male, the capital city of Maldives. According to the Indian Express, MEA under-secretary (Maldives, Indian Ocean Region) Sushil Prasad wrote in a letter: "This is... about the visit of Bengaluru FC to Male to play a match of Asian Football Confederation Cup against TC Sports Club of Male at National Stadium in Male on February 13, 2018... Since the state of emergency imposed in the Republic of Maldives since February 5, 2018, India has issued a travel advisory... advising Indian nationals to defer their trip to the Maldives until further notice. Bengaluru FC is advised to adhere to it strictly and defer their proposed visit to the Maldives."

However, Bengaluru FC chief technical officer Mandar Tamhane said they had obtained the necessary clearances by Sunday afternoon. "The team is already on its way. We secured the clearances from the AFC and government before that. Maldives has assured that there would be necessary security arrangements done for the team and the players," he said, adding he will travel on Tuesday for the game.

Bengaluru, however, has disregarded the MEA advisory as failure to turn up in Maldives will result TC Sports Club being awarded a 3-0 win in the first leg. The second leg will be held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on February 20.

Eighteen players, the coach Albert Roca, assistant coach Marc Huguet, goalkeeper coach Edu Gasol, physio Senen Fernandez, team manager Rosewall da Cunha and media manager Kunaal Majgaonkar have made the trip to Maldives. Some of the players who travelled are goalkeeper Lalthuammawia Ralte, defenders Harmanjot Khabra, Rahul Bheke, Nishu Kumar, Subhasish Bose and Joyner Lourenco, midfielders Erik Paartalu, Boithang Haokip, Malsawmzuala and strikers Daniel Lalhlimpuia and Semboi Haokip. Regular captain Sunil Chhetri and India No 1 goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu have not travelled for the game.

The club earlier wrote to the Asian Football Confederation and All India Football Federation apprising the governing bodies about the state of emergency imposed in Maldives by embattled President Abdulla Yameen. The AFC has told the club the match will go ahead as planned after the Maldives National Defence Force assured the continental body that it would provide security to the visiting team for the match.

The Bengaluru FC travelling party will land in Male by evening and no training has been scheduled for Sunday (February 11). They will have a pre-match training session on Monday (February 12).

The players are learnt to be focussing on the match alone and not worry about the unrest surrounding them. After all, they were in North Korea when the regime launched a nuclear missile over Pyongyang.