Bigger than Ever.

The battle for the crown will never be bigger than ever. It was never like this since the inception of the tournament in the history of Indian football. Previously termed National Football League (NFL), the second edition of I-League (Indian League). The tournament started like a fairy tale for many teams, having dream runs, nightmare matches and some did up their tempo to fight for survival. As it always had been, Bengal and Goan teams made the most impact with some other regional teams making their impression in the tournament.

At present,
Churchill Brothers --- 43 points.
Mohun Bagan --- 43 points.
Sporting De Goa --- 40 points.
Dempo SC --- 30 points.
Mahindra United --- 28 points.
Mumbai FC --- 28 points.
East Bengal --- 27 points.
Air India --- 24 points.
Chirag United SC --- 23 points.
JCT --- 22 points.
Mohammedan Sporting --- 22 points.*
Vasco Sporting --- 10 points.*

*Relegation Zone as on 12/4/09

The points are following all the penultimate matches of the league are over.

The Scenario: Mohun Bagan came from behind the table and a time came when they were placed seventh in the table. It was after sixth round, that they scripted a turn a round and after beating Dempo in an away match, Mohun Bagan AC created history in I-League/NFL in carrying on a ten match winning streak which ended when they faced their arch rivals East Bengal in the 16th Round, where they lost 3:0. At that time Mohun Bagan was on top and over took Sporting Clube de Goa two matches ago, defeating them! After that defeat, Churchill tanks to breath taking performances by O. Okolie, the Nigerian who at present is the League's top scorer with a dozen braces. (24 goals).

At the end of the 21 rounds, with a flabbergasting finish by Manju Pradhan for Mohun Bagan, against Dempo, who scored the winner after a 1-1 dead lock since 55th minute. The score came with 37 seconds left for the stipulated injury time!

The fixture of the Final Round:

	ROUND 22 16.04.09 Churchill Brothers SC -:- Mohammedan Sporting Club 16.04.09 Air-India -:- Sporting Clube de Goa . 16.04.09 East Bengal Club -:- Dempo SC 16.04.09 Mahindra United -:- Mohun Bagan AC 16.04.09 JCT -:- Mumbai FC 16.04.09 Vasco SC -:- Chirag United SC

Mohun Bagan and Churchill Brothers are head on with 43 points each. (12/4/09) CB faces the Relegation candidate Mohammedan Sporting, another Calcutta outfit, the home town of Mohun Bagan. Mohammedan has a chance to skip relegation provided they defeat CB and JCT manages nothing a draw! If JCT makes a draw and Chirag United loses to Vasco, then Chirag gets relegated! That would result in loss of another Calcutta team. Since Mohammedan has the proffessionalism and the urge to win, they will be facing one of the most prolific goal scoring machine in the league, Okolie. Hence the match will be important. If Mohun Bagan manages to draw with CB going down to MS, then Mohun wins the title and MS saves relegation, provided JCT/Chirag loses! On the other hand the fight for the 4th to 7th position will be on between Dempo, Mahindra, Mumbai SC and East Bengal who are closely placed and Mohun Bagan faces one of them, Mahindra United in an away fixture! Hence, for the first time, since all the matches are important, every match will be played accordingly and simultaenously! April 16th will be a big day for Indian Football Fans and I will be supporting My Mohun Bagan. For the I-League title will complete the garland for 2008-09 where in almost all the major soccer tournaments in variuos levels would be won by MB. The dream started with the Kolkata League, continued with the Federation Cup and now I-League. MB didnt play the IFA Shield this time, or else it would have been ours as well!!!

Another Fight.

The table for the I-League, which is the EPL version in India is now on it's hind legs, as the teams gear up to fight for the title. Bhaichung Bhutia, the India captain has promised that the title is going to come in Calcutta, with the Calcutta Giants, Mohun Bagan will win it. The team along with the coach, Bencharifa are quite confident about this, but at the moment, they are a point behind the table leaders after the thirteenth round. On 6th February, 2009, Yuva Bharati will boil with emotions from the Mohun Bagan fans, as they face the table toppers, Sporting Club de Goa, a Goan outfit who has been convincing this season. But Bagan who at the moment has the local Calcutta League and the Federation Cup already under theior belts look forward to make their fame by recreating history of holding titles at all levels. Only if the IFA Shield came back home, it would have been the best deal. Mohun Bagan has won the league (formerly known as National Football League) three times since 1997 opening. This year is I-League's second edition as a new name. This is the present standing between the tournament teams teams:

#	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF-GA	GDIF	PTS
1	Sporting Clube de Goa - Goa	13	9	1	3	15-09	+6	28
2	Mohun Bagan AC - Calcutta	13	8	3	2	18-09	+9	27
3	Churchill Brothers SC - Goa	13	6	6	1	23-13	+10	24
4	Mumbai Football Club - Mumbai [P]	13	6	4	3	16-14	+2	22
5	Dempo Sports Club - Goa [C]	13	5	3	5	19-15	+4	18
6	Air-India - Mumbai	13	4	5	4	14-13	+1	17
7	JCT - Phagwara	13	4	4	4	12-13	-1	16
8	Mahindra United - Mumbai	13	4	3	6	13-14	-1	15
9	East Bengal Club - Calcutta	13	3	4	6	12-13	-1	13
10	Chirag United Sports Club - Calcutta [P]	13	3	4	6	09-16	-7	13
11	Mohammedan Sporting Club - Calcutta [P]	13	2	4	7	05-16	-11	10
12	Vasco Sports Club - Goa [P]	13	2	3	8	08-19	-11	09

The values are Matches, win, loss, draw, GF-GA, GD and Points. This match will seal the fate for Bagan, for if they carry on winning, they would simply be invincible. The only team that looks quite strong is JCT, who has theor home match agains Bagan.

I Pray for Mohun Bagan...

Blemishes all The way...

POST # 208.

Today the Prince of Football did set his blessed feet on the land of Fertility, in the City of Joy, Kolkata, India. The welcome on his arrival in the early morning was too overwhelming for him to come to terms that India holds so many fan following of his. His interpreter decoded: I don't believe that they have come to see me....! There were about 30000 strong men and women, children and senior citizens, who wanted to catch a glimpse of this great man who had the capability to single handedly manage a game and be called as Mr. Football!
Mr. Diego A. Maradona, the World Player of The Year, The Player of the Century (1900- 2000), hundreds of Player of the Match, and The Century's Best Goal scorer came to Kolkata, where every player dream to come just to feel the vibes that runs in the arteries and the veins. They are all Indians, they are either Mohun Bagans or East Bengals or Mohameddan Sportings... but today they were the follower of God actively.... but as the saying in the colloqial goes which means, that too much curoisity spoils the party, is what happened tonight at Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
In the immense Fan Fare, and with so many people wishing to meet the great player, all forgot that there exists a thin line between Hooliginasimn, Indecency (on one side) and Decency and Courtesy (on the other). Even my mom, who knows nothing more than the name Maradona, commented on the miss management on behalf of the organisers. After the exhibition match between the CM XI and EAM XI, there rush was exceedingly obnoxious! What harm would have occured if all the mementoes were delivered to him in an orderly fashion on a podium with proper announcement!!! No, they felt most comfortable presenting it on the ground, and shaking hands.... some who didnt even played football...just for the sake of a picture!
More courtesy lacks! In the midst of the exhibition match, there were people who felt like introducing themselves, taking autographs, when it appeared that the man was watching with his great mind, "TRYING" to focus on the on field actions!!! It felt really bad... really....!
Mis-management and blemishes at their apogee! Great taste to the palate... well what ever sourness spurred on the occasion, hope it gets sweetened with the famous Misti Doi and Rasgolla, tommorow, and he SIGNs OFF with the FULL Smile...

Whispers of The Heart.

POST # 207.

The December has already expanded it's wings to cover up the whole world, with its chilling spells. And today, Mr. Diego Maradona makes his first step in India, and that too in Calcutta / Kolkata. His two days stay in India, the God of Soccer, would grace his fans from what has been one of the best year end extravaganza that the Kolkata Crowd has ever witnessed. Back in the 60s, The Black Diamond, Pele of Brazil graced the Yuva Bharati Krirangan playing against Mohun Bagan, the Oldest Soccer Club in Asia and today, Maradona, the God of Soccer would let his footfall on this same turf, of YBK... and when he does so, the one lakh strong crowd would surely felicitate the great. Although an year ago, it was Oliver Kahn, the legendary Goalkeeper of Germany, played his last career match against Mohun Bagan, in YBK, as part of Bayern Munich... but this is totally different.

Due to lack of tickets, I will not make it, but would not miss the program on air, directly from YBK! For me Maradona is better than Pele, and I am a die hard fan of Argentina as well as Mohun Bagan.

Sahara Calcutta Football League: 2008.

It was never bigger than this, in this season. With the re-incarnation of the Third power of Calcutta Maidan (Playing Grounds), Mohammedan Sporting Club, which has remained in the umbra of infamous eclipse, for past 27 years, this century years old Football club, a bastion for the Islams in Nation, better to be represented like that, MS is making its great fight truly a master

The other two giants of Calcutta Football are also on their roller coaster ride. One having the race for the title still on, i.e: Mohun Bagan the oldest club of Asia and the other is East Bengal. Although for the former its a match for the title, but for the latter its a match of regaining lost pride. The brieft account about the significance of the match is elaborated below.

12th September, 2008: Mohun Bagan meets East Bengal. History waives to MB, as they have to take avenge for the 5-0 defeat in a derby way back in 1975, by defeating the EB, arch rivals 7th time in a row, a feat that has been possible for the last two years without stop!

13th September, 2008: Mohammedan Sporting meets Chirag United. If Mohun loses the match and MS wins, then Goal difference may make them the champions, after 27 years! This match has some speculations about being fixed, but as rumors are...they should be left un heeded! This accusation has put forward by MB, so that angered all the fans of the other two giants and United them... rare.**

# RIVALRY NOTE: The Mohun Bagan is for the people of West Bengal (pre independence) while East Bengal as the name suggest are for the East Bengal inhabitants, now Bangladesh. Although EB is half a century old club, it has lot of distinction both as regional as well as national pride. They won International Cups for the Nation while Mohun Bagan has a distinction of being the first Indian Club to British Club pro Independence in 1911. But this fight is most watched and sought for fights in the whole nation and also across the border, in Bangladesh.

Whatever, lets hope for the best for Indian Football

-----

Somnath Paul.

** IT TAKES A LOT TO DEFEAT MOHUN BAGAN...!