ATK will miss their two new signings, Anas Edathodika and Jobby Justin in their Indian Super League 2019-20 opener against Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on October 20. Both Anas and Justin will be unavailable as they are supposed to serve out their suspensions that they are carrying forward.
Anas will not have the chance to go against his former team in their first game of the season as he has to serve out a red card suspension that he earned during Kerala Blasters' Super Cup game againt Indian Arrows. Anas, therefore, will miss just the first game. Anas last played for the Indian national team in their disappointing 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifier at the Salt Lake Stadium.
While ATK head coach Antonio Habas will not have Anas for the first game, he will miss the services of Justin for the first three games of the season. Justin was handed a six-game ban by the AIFF Disciplinary Committee for an ugly spat with Aizawl FC defender Kareem Nurain when he played for East Bengal in the I-League last season. Justin has already served out three matches.
With three more matches remaining, Justin will miss the opener away game against the Blasters, the October 25 home game against newbies Hyderabad FC and another way game against Chennaiyin FC on October 30. Justin will be available for selection from the home game against Jamshedpur FC on November 9.
Apart from ATK missing two of their players, last season's runners-up FC Goa will also miss their midfield stalwart Ahmed Jahouh when they begin their campaign against two-time champions Chennaiyin FC on October 23. The Moroccan was sent off in the first half of Extra Time with a double booking in the 2018-19 final when Bengaluru FC won the game 1-0, to lift their maiden ISL title.
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