Mohammedan Sporting Club’s head coach Andrey Chernyshov, team manager Dipendu Biswas, and players Cesar Manzoki and Joseph Adjei have urged their fans to turn out in full force to support them ahead of their first-ever Indian Super League (ISL) game.

After earning promotion to the ISL by winning the I-League last season, Mohammedan SC will face NorthEast United FC at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Monday. As the second team promoted to the ISL, following Punjab FC, they are eager to make a strong start to their campaign.

Chernyshov highlighted the crucial role of fan support in their I-League success and is calling on supporters to replicate that enthusiasm as they embark on their ISL journey.

“Mohammedan SC fans are the best because they gave us good motivation even last season. Without them, we could not have won the I-League last season. They came to the stadium and gave us positive energy and emotion. They followed us to other cities for the matches. This is really important and now we need this again. After we lost a game, they would cry and when we would win, they would celebrate like anything. This is the emotion we need from them and I want to thank them,” the Mohammedan SC head coach said to indiansuperleague.com.

Former player Dipendu Biswas has served as team manager from their days in the I-League Second Division through their promotion and eventual I-League victory. He has witnessed the team’s journey through its highs and lows and will now be present for their historic ISL debut. Biswas also has a notable playing history with rival clubs East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan, with whom he won the National League.

“Our fans have been waiting to see us in the ISL. I have seen the tough times for the club and they were there even then. Now it's a good time for the club and this was a dream for the fans too which has come true. We have seen fans cry, the passion of Mohammedan SC fans is something else,” he said to indiansuperleague.com.

Forward Cesar Manzoki might make his debut against NorthEast United FC and is one of the new additions to Mohammedan SC. Manzoki expressed his honour to represent the historic club and hopes to make an impact in the league. He urged fans to support the team as they embark on this new chapter.

“I want to tell all the fans that we are one family and it’s important for them to come and support us because when we are together, we have more power, more force and we can win games,” the Congolese striker said to indiansuperleague.com.

Defender Joseph Adjei shared similar sentiments. The Ghanaian, a key leader in last season’s I-League-winning campaign, emphasised the importance of fan support as the team enters the ISL.

“The fans should come in large numbers because we want to give them the result that they want because we want to prove something in the league,”  the defender said to indiansuperleague.com.