Kolkata: For the first time in the history of Indian football, two different tournaments-the I-League and the Indian Super League will be held simultaneously. While it would be something that is completely new in the arena of Indian football, this automatically means that I-League loses it’s importance as the top quality players and more audience would now be drawn more towards the glamorous and cash-rich ISL.
Both these Kolkata clubs, who have a good amount of history and legacy behind them now has moved to the Chief Minister of West Bengal to helping them with building their own personal stadiums. This can be seen as a last effort on the part of these teams to restore their lost pride and glory.
“Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting Club have written to the Chief Minister for building personal stadiums. We want to bring I-League to Kolkata Maidan,” said Debashish Dutta, the Finance Secretary of Mohun Bagan at the Calcutta Sports Journalist’s Club on Monday.
They also said that they are waiting for her response to fix a date for a meeting.
The 2nd of July was World Sports Journalist’s Day, the celebration of which was held at the Calcutta Sports Journalist’s Club on the 3rd of the same month. The occasion was attended by AIFF senior vice-president Subrata Dutta, East Bengal Secretary Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta, Mohun Bagan Finance Secretary Debashish Dutta and veteran footballer Shyam Thapa.
Both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal weren’t allowed to be a part of the ISL as they refused to pay the franchise fee of ₹15 crore. Quite aware of the fact that they might become unpopular now, both these clubs agreed that they would continue serving Indian football and would remain strong at the face of adversity.
“These (East Bengal and Mohun Bagan) clubs have battled it out for 100 years. East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have been protecting Indian football for a long time and will continue doing so,” said Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta who was optimistic about the I-League clubs remaining in the Indian football arena for a long time to come. We will act like watchdogs of Indian football.”
Echoing him, Debashish Dutta said, “I don’t know why are we even being compared to ISL franchises. We have agreed in totality that if we have to show our strength, we will do it on the field.”
He also referred to Mohun Bagan’s historic victory over British club East York Regiment in 1911 which added to the national movement and made Mohun Bagan a national club. Said Dutta, “History says we have won bigger battles that too in barefoot. Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are the clubs because of their fans, their performances on field.”
He further added, “We have always been in top five of country’s league. We have seen many clubs — Dempo, Pune FC, Mahindra United to name a few — come and go but we are permanent. These eight (ISL) clubs are just three-year-olds.”
Dutta also requested the audience to be present in huge numbers in the I-League matches which would send a strong message to the ISL. “We request all our fans to fill in the ground in such a way the stands are packed and there’s 5000 more outside. And no tickets will be free. We want to show our strength. This would send a strong message.”
AIFF representative and senior vice-president Subrata Dutta also came out in support of both these clubs and said, “ISL would not have been born without I-League. By not including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, it’s not being fair to them. We must not forget who we are talking of (Mohun Bagan and East Bengal)”.
He also stated that he always has the interest of Indian football in mind.
The I-League clubs have appealed to the AIFF to let them recruit as much as eight foreigners in their squad for the upcoming season. Speaking on that, both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan’s representatives at the press conference- Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta and Debashish Dutta said that they supported this move despite it not helping Indian football to grow.
Said Shanti Ranjan, “We are doing this to fight the ISL.”
Echoing him, Dutta said, ” I know that this is wrong but still I am supporting this as we need to fight the ISL.”
Dutta though critical of the ISL franchises taking up the limelight, thanked Reliance for helping Indian football financially.
He said, “We must thank them (Reliance). They have chosen football over cricket. We must not forget that we could not participate in the World Cup due to lack of funds!”
But on the same note, he didn’t back down from blaming the AIFF for not showing them the right path of investment. “They should have shown them the right path — of reviving the I-League instead of creating a new league (ISL).”
Shyam Thapa, the legendary Indian footballer who has played for both these clubs said that both these clubs must not stick to tradition and history only and instead move on and try to innovate.
“Will we stick to the same things? The young generation wants to see new things and ISL has brought back the crowd to Indian football. East Bengal and Mohun Bagan would stay but they would have to innovate themselves,” a passionate and animated Thapa signed off saying.