What makes people watch the game of football staying up all night? What exactly gives it the universal appeal and popularity it has? What actually lies behind this game that fascinates the young and the old equally? The answer is precise and simple- football is the game of 'the people'….the masses.
But when it comes to Indian football, there is more to the aforementioned reason for such fondness we have for it, slightly different from the conventionally existing ones, like, the love for the game or watching real talents, competent players as scene-stealers. The existing conflict between the different local clubs is what comes first to mind, especially those of Goa and Bengal, since Indian soccer has a strong base in these two places. However, Bengal rivalry still continues to play a major role in it. And this pervades the scene in the field making the game interesting and exciting like no other. Take for example the long-term rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal…perhaps the greatest one in the history of Indian football.
The East Bengal Club, based in Calcutta as of 2004 had won top honors in the National Football League, two years running. They were the first and the only Indian club in over forty years to win a continental trophy when they beat BEC Tero Sasano in the final of the 2003 ASEAN cup championship. Whereas, Mohun Bagan Athletic Club (Mohun Bagan AC) - the oldest football club in Asia, established on August 15, 1889 has been immensely successful since its foundation, and has maintained its status as one of India's most successful clubs with the legacy of being the former's toughest competitor. Mohun Bagan was in fact the first Indian team to have defeated a foreign team, when it defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment to lift the 1911 IFA Shield. The association has always carried on an intense local rivalry with the East Bengal Club that represents Bengalis hailing from eastern part of Bengal, along with innumerable supporters from the western part too. On the other hand, Mohun Bagan represents Ghotis comprising a class of people from western part of Bengal, with some from the eastern side as well. East Bengal fans celebrate their victory by eating Hilsa fish while Mohun Bagan supporters do the same by eating Prawns. With the passage of time, both teams now have fans belonging to various communities and regions of India and through ethnic conflict have found prolific expression in their rivalry...
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1 comment:
Thanks for writing this.
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