"We can now look to challenge the I-League. Hope we win it this time," captain Sanju Pradhan today said at the club tent during the flag hoisting ceremony for winning the 34th Federation Cup.
East Bengal came back from a goal deficit to down I-League champions Dempo 3-2 in a nail-biting final at the Kanchenjungha Stadium in Siliguri on Sunday.
The red-and-gold were the only Kolkata team left in the fray after the other two heavyweights -- Mohun Bagan and United SC -- were eliminated in the group stage.
Being the only Kolkata side left, there was added motivation, said the diminutive mid-fielder.
"It was tough, but we won because of sheer hard work and a bit of luck. There was tremendous pressure on us with other Kolkata teams leaving early.
"But it was an added motivation to do well in the tournament. We beat three Goan teams out of five en route to the title. The support (in Siliguri) was really overwhelming," Pradhan said.
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For playmaker Mehtab Hossain, who led in the final, "The Federation Cup is history".
"It is time to face up to the next challenge. One job is finished, another one (I-League) begins now," Hossain said.
The eight-time champions East Bengal have won four titles from five finals in the last six years of the Federation Cup, but faltered at the last hurdle in the I-League, where they have finished runners-up for last two successive seasons.
Terming it an "unfinished job", East Bengal coach Morgan said, "In our last two I-League campaigns, we managed to garner 112 points out of a possible 156 from 52 matches.
"Clearly, it was not enough. We aim to win as many matches as possible in the upcoming edition," the 56-year-old said.
The Englishman hoped that his wards would show the same character when the I-League 2012-13 begins.
"More than winning the trophy here, our biggest achievement from this Federation Cup tournament is that we have shown character and conviction to perform under pressure. We need to show the same in overcoming our next challenge."