East Bengal return to hero's welcome

A day after securing their maiden AFC Cup semifinal berth, East Bengal today returned to a hero's welcome with the club supporters present at the city airport in large numbers, but captain Mehtab Hossain said the time has not yet come for them to bask in glory as they would like to go further.
"I understand it's a great feeling to qualify for the semifinals for the first time. But this is not the ultimate... Having reached this stage, we all have to go further," Hossain said after reaching with the team this evening.
Maintaining an unbeaten record, East Bengal's 1-1 draw at Padang yesterday earned them a maiden AFC Cup semifinal berth on aggregate as they became the second Indian side to reach this stage after Dempo in 2008.

In the semifinal, East Bengal would be up against defending champions Kuwait SC, who are seeking a record third AFC Cup title. The two teams face in the first leg in Kuwait City next week.
"We all know that we are up against the defending champions. They are a very strong side so we would have to play well and keep their focus on the semifinals," Hossain said as jubilant fans in red-and-gold jersey cheered the team and waved the club's flags.
"Our priorities are clear. Now that we have come this far, we want to go further. We just cannot afford to slip at this stage," the inspirational playmaker said about the team's record unbeaten run in the AFC Cup.

Hailing his team, Hussain further said: "All of us were clear about their role and they executed it to perfection... We all are determined to go all the way".
Defending champions Kuwait Sports Club rode on an Issam Jemma first-half hattrick to sweep aside Maldives club New Radiant 5-0, and 12-2 on aggregate, to seal their semifinal berth for the fourth time in five years.