Also read: Abahani duo return ahead of AFC Cup tie
"We have to face Aizawl in the next two group matches at home and away. The first game is very important for us to bounce back in the AFC Cup," said Titu before adding, "Although it's an away game and Aizawl are a good team competing at the highest level, I am convinced my boys with practical approach know it is possible to beat them and gather confidence." Titu also said he mainly concentrated in the previous weeks on the fitness of the players. He informed that he had to strike a fine balance between the seven national players who joined the squad late and the existing ones. He said he has high hope on Nigerian attacking pair Sunday Chizoba, who missed the Bengaluru clash due to suspension, and Emeka Darlington. Midfielder Emon Mahmud is set to return to action after around four months of injury-forced absence and is likely to replace Sohel Rana in midfield. Abahani played their last match on March 14 this year while Aizawl played two matches in a week, including Sunday's 1-0 defeat against East Bengal in the AIFF Super Cup. Aizawl head coach Santosh Kashyap, who joined the Mizoram outfit two days after Titu took over the responsibility of Abahani in February, said through the club's official twitter page, "Despite the hectic schedule, we will not have any excuses. We will give our best and fight to win for three points (Wednesday)." Meanwhile, in Group E's other match on the same day, Indian giant Bengaluru host Maldives' champion New Radiant in a crucial tie. The result will go a long way in deciding the group winner.
