ISL 2017/18: East Bengal-bound Dudu Omagbemi believes Katsumi Yusa will hold the key in the Kolkata Derby

What’s the story?

Dudu Omagbemi, who is on the verge of joining Kolkata giants East Bengal, believes that Japanese midfield maestro Katsumi Yusa will hold the key when the Red and Golds take on their arch rivals Mohun Bagan. The Nigerian forward told Bengali daily, Ebela, “Yusa is the star of the team.”

When asked about a potential rivalry with Bagan’s Sony Norde, Dudu nonchalantly replied, “I’m not coming to Kolkata to compete with any individual. Also, Sony and I play in different positions, our playing styles are different as well. So, I don’t think there should be any comparisons.”

In case you didn’t know…

As reported earlier, Dudu has arrived in Kolkata in the afternoon and is set to join East Bengal. It has been learnt he will replace Brazilian striker Charles do Vale de Souza, who has been pretty ordinary this season.

This will be Dudu’s second stint at East Bengal, having already played for the club back in 2014-15. He has also played for Bagan previously.

The heart of the matter

With the high voltage clash between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan coming up, both teams are looking to take advantage of the transfer window and bolster their squads. While Bagan have already released Ansumana Kromah and signed Akram Moghrabi, East Bengal are yet to make any signings in this window.

However, if there are no major mishaps, Dudu will sign in the next few days. The striker, who is known for his goal-scoring knack, will partner Willis Plaza up front with Mahmoud Al-Amna and Yusa pulling the strings from behind.

Dudu feels that Yusa, and not Plaza or Amna, will be coach Khalid Jamil’s trump card in the big derby match.

What’s next?

East Bengal will host Mohun Bagan on 21st January, 2018 in the I-League reverse fixture. Having lost the first leg by a solitary goal, Jamil’s men will be looking for redemption.

Author’s take

With his arrival, Yusa has brought in dedication and commitment to the East Bengal side, something that their foreign contingent lacked in the last few years. One of the most consistent players this season, the Japanese will definitely play a crucial role in the upcoming Kolkata derby.