All three Kolkata giants to play?

East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan -- all the three giants of the Kolkata football scene -- are expected to feature in the third edition of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup, which is scheduled to be held from October 19 in Chittagong, claimed the tournament’s chief coordinator and host club Chittagong Abahani’s director, Tarafder Ruhul Amin.

The football organiser, who was in Kolkata for the past two days, has received confirmation from the three teams in a bid to make the tournament a grand success.

“We got written confirmation from Mohun Bagan on Friday and today we got written confirmation from Mohammedan. We also got verbal assurances from East Bengal today [Saturday],” Ruhul Amin told The Daily Star over phone from Kolkata last night.

“We are trying to make a big splash with this tournament. If all the three traditional powerhouses from Kolkata participate in this tournament, it will be a big football event in all of the subcontinent,” he added.

Although Ruhul Amin said that East Bengal had not given a written commitment yet due to its obligation to have the issue approved by the club’s sponsors, he expects all three clubs to send their first teams.

“They are willing to send their first teams as they are taking this tournament as preparation for the I-league, which will start in the first week of November,” Ruhul Amin said.

The three Indian giants will be joined by defending Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings, Federation Cup winners Abahani and host club Chittagong Abahani in the eight-team tournament, with the other two teams yet to be confirmed.

The organisers have already sent letters through the Bangladesh Football Federation to the football federations of Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives for the remaining slots.

The host club had won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2015, beating East Bengal in the final. The second edition was held in 2017 where TC Sports Club of Maldives emerged champions, beating FC Pocheon of South Korea on penalties in the final.