The Bengali Link....

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Bengal and Bengalis have their ever onward link with football. Come May, June or July or may be the cold Jans and Febs, Bengalis have always loved the game, that the English preached the world. Its a famous quote that the English preached the beautiful game of football, the world over and the Brazilians made it their own. But folk lores have always proved it a point, that there is one more nationality, that have owned this beautiful game, smearing emotions, tears, love, smiles, pain and almost all the basic human traits....even death!

The culture of football in Bengal started way back in 1867, when the first ever match was being played. In 1889, the first ever Soccer club was established, bearing the name Mohun Bagan. Today, it is one of India's premier clubs... Incidentally, Mohun Bagan is Asia's oldest soccer club. Its first achievement came in 1911, being the first Indian club to defeat a British team in the prestigious IFA Shield Finals, winning the trophy. Their counterparts were The East Yorkshire Regiment. They were beaten by MB with 2-1 margin. It was a part of Bengal Rennaissance, that inspired Indians. In a megazine called Manosi, this winner by a pre-independent Indian team had sent our wripples, announcing June 29, 1911 as the freedom for Bengal (as well as Indian) football. Mr. Shibdas Bhadhuri led the team against the foreigners. Its was also reported, that kites flew till dusk, that day to celebrate the victory. This is symbolic with Indian independence, as kites flew on 15th August 1947 as well....

Bengal, post independence was divided into Bangladesh and West Bengal.... the soccer fraternity too were divided within West Bengal as East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Relatively new, East Bengal is the sole compititor of Mohun Bagan and when its a derby between the two, the emotions run as high as a Brazilian Argentine match or even India Pakistan cricket match... to commemorate that, August 1984 saw the demise of 19 spectators when brawl broke between the two sects of supporters at Eden Gardens, over the Calcutta Football league...

Football has played an important role, making it beautiful to life and many times a Chivalrous date...

Many unsolved deals were settled by a game of soccer. I can cite one:

I had studied in Calcutta Boys' School. There was always a supressed tension between the two sections of same standard, regarding quality of results and students.... By sections I mean, division within the same standard. In standard 8, the tension reached the maximum. I don't even vivid remember the reason, but the issue became so prestigious, that 30 students of 8B faced 27 students of 8A (my section) in a soccer match, during the lunch recess... The match turned into a fight, after section B won by 2-1, but the fight began even before the game ended...! 

Emotions run high for passion.... when it comes to Argentina and Brazil. The city is again divided into two....

2010, both departed in the Quarters. The city has its own fan following for the Germans, because Bengalis have a close knit relation with the Germans, coz of Netaji and many stories... Few years back, Oliver Kahn, the great German Goalie, signed off his career playing his last match at Yuva Bharati... for Bayern Munich. Also, Maradona paid his visit, mentioning Kolkata as his newest second home...feeling the warmth. Even Pele, played for Cosmos, against the forebearers of Indian Football, Mohun Bagan, 1977.

But again, the glaze and glamour has tarnished a bit, due to exit of Brazilians and Argentines....