Antonio Lopez Habas, the Spanish coach of Athletico De Kolkata (ATK) has decided to conduct high-altitude training for his players during the team’s one-month preparation in Madrid before the Indian Super League (ISL) this season. It has been learnt that Habas has also decided the venue for the high-altitude training. It is Segovia, the historic city of central Spain, and 300 feet above the sea level. According to the ATK top brass, Habas will conduct the training at this city mainly to strengthen the fitness level of the players. Twenty-four players, except Arnab Mondal, the East Bengal defender and Rino Anto, will be flying for Madrid in the first week of September for an extensive pre-season training. It is also believed that ATK will play preparatory matches in Spain after the training at Segovia against three teams. One opposition will be a local team of Segovia while the other two teams, ATK will play are the second division teams from La Liga. The team is scheduled to return to Kolkata on September 17 and before their campaign in the forthcoming ISL on October 4 in Chennai, ATK top brass trying to organize preparatory matches in Siliguri and in Kolkata also.
On the other hand, ATK, in its revenue generating programmes, is going to start ATK Fans forum in Kolkata. The establishment of Fan clubs is already under pipeline in various places of the city, especially in Behala region where Sourav Ganguly’s residence is. The Fan’s forum has decided to offer all ATK fans the team’s jersey as well as tickets for the team’s seven home matches in the ISL. And the fan will have to register with the forum at the cost of Rs 800. In addition, the franchise club has also decided to arrange separate seats for these fans at the Salt lake Stadium, opposite to the VIP gallery. The fans will also have the opportunity to get food stalls at this block so that they can get food packets at a minimum price. According to plans, ATK is likely to register around four thousand fans in the first season.