Kolkata: Their club Mohun Bagan has been playing ineffable football in the Hero I-League 2017. Sanjoy Sen’s men won three out of three games to start the league campaign in the best possible way to be there at the top of the league table. The rock solid Bagan defense is yet to concede a goal in the league and the ace attacking options like Darryl Duffy, Jeje, Katsumi, Balwant and the fans’ very own Sony Norde is in sublime form. Despite all these positives, there were hardly 3,000 fans turned out there at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium to witness Mohun Bagan’s thrashing 4-0 victory over Minerva Punjab FC.
After the match the Bagan officials faced the unpleasant questions about the low turnout and Debashish Dutta defended that in his usual style. He said, “There might be many reasons for that. The game was in the afternoon and we cannot expect that the fans to bunk their offices and to come on a weekday afternoon. Another reason is that the majority of the fans are yet to know the counters from where they can collect their tickets. The match timings are also a factor. We have shifted to a new venue and it is a habit to go and support your favourite club. Once we settle here, I believe by that time the stadium will become a part of the habits of their fans. It has happened but it’s not a that serious matter”.
It was asked if the ticket price was an issue but the Bagan official seemed unperturbed about it. He stated, “I don’t think that is an issue. One needs to understand the quality of players we have recruited this season like Duffy, Sony, Jeje, Katsumi and others, have their own value. We are playing at our preferred venue at flood lights which has its costs as well. The fans are expected to understand the present conditions. We are not asking too much.”
The ISL franchise Atletico de Kolkata also used to have at least 10,000 fans on an average at the same stadium but Debasish said, “We are selling our tickets for our fans unlike them who used to have a 1100 tickets for the sale and the other tickets were distributed as complimentary. There is a difference.” He also wants to host their return leg of Kolkata derby at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium only.
There has been an issue in organizing their AFC Cup games at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium as there has been some criterias which are still to be fulfilled. Debasish seemed confident in that matter as well. He said, “We are already in regular meetings with honourable minister Mr.Aroop Biswas and trying to fix the problems. We are hopeful that we can play our home games at the Rabindra Sarobar.” The 3,500 bucket seats won’t be a big ask for the bagan officials to install as about 5000 bucket seats are already there at the stadium which were broughtfrom the Salt Lake Stadium and is claimed to be installed there in 7 days time. Mr.Dutta has also claimed to have conveyed the message to Mr.Kushal Das. The only concern has been the distance of the media centre and the other necessary technical areas from the dressing room and Mr. Dutta has been optimistic in solving those problems as well.
Now it is to see whether they can solve the problems in due time and to get the nod from The AFC to organize their AFC Cup games at their preferred venue or not.