Feel the Passion of Kolkata Derby!
“DERBY”- This very word is sufficient for having a sleepless night for me, a football fan, true North Calcuttan and of course a die-hard Mohun Bagan supporter.
It is true most of the Bengalese in all over the world, by default, either Mohun Bagan or East Bengal by birth. Being a part of family where my grandfather Late Sailendra Nath Ganguly, at the age of 3 years taught me not to forget the name of Mohun Bagan forever, even in the said tender age I have realised, it is our Mohun Bagan who should have the same status with my mother.
My grandfather had the close associates with the legend Umapati Kumar. In that age when the officials were collecting money from the members and supporters for building up a team, my grandfather was one of the fewest blessed supporter, who had the pride to help the club financially. He had so much of pride for the club, that he had the true feeling that “becoming a member of Mohun Bagan is tougher than passing of Matriculation Examination.” So, it can be realised that how I got the love for my Mohun Bagan…. our Mohun Bagan.
One interesting story about Derby which I really wanted to share with everyone, which till date I never shared with anyone. I was around 3 or 4 years of age. My grandfather who was fond of closing the door during the Derby match, again on that day, like other matches, withdrawn himself completely from the rest of the world and praying to the Almighty for his club in the closed room. My Mom, somehow was angry for my constant disturbance to her, kept the radio in a place where the little boy of 3 or 4 cannot reach. Somehow, with the help of chair I reached to the radio and once I have been able to open the radio hiding from my Mom, Mohun Bagan scored the second goal in the Derby. Even in that age I got realised that when our team leading by 2-0, it is the day of our victory. So, forgetting everything, I started shouting “Dadu…Dadu… Mohun Bagan leading by 2-0” and running after Dadu. I became insane with the joy. This goal was too costly for my family members as within few seconds they had to rush to the Marwari Relief Society Hospital (nearer to our house at Girish Park) taking me with full of blood on the forehead. Mark of two stitches on the forehead still very much reminded me that day. So, I am that guy whose love for Mohun Bagan was always there and still there which pulls me to the ground even in the busy day.
It is really difficult to remember about my first ever Derby Match seen on the ground. But probably that match was washed out with heavy rain. But one match, which I can still distinctly remember, is the match where Krishna Gopal Chowdhury equalised the goal of Jamshed Nasiri. Our rivalry East Bengal was leading by 1-0. Biswajit Bhattcharya again scored the second. I just closed my eyes when the ball went inside the net. Fortunately, that goal was cancelled as the ball touched his hand before he got control over the ball. Match was when about to finish to the Bagan supporter, Krishna Gopal Chowdhury, being the real Krishna of Pandava, saved the entire Bagan supporter.
The first ever Derby played in the floodlight was also a memorable day for me as we won the match by Uttam Mukherjee’s solitary goal. There was heavy rain. But still me and my friends reached home after walking all the way for 12 Kilometres from YBK to my home at Paikpara. The ecstatic mood never allowed us to realise the total wet condition. The first ever Derby telecasted by ESPN was also a draw match where Satyajit Chatterjee equalised the match. It was around 70,000/- plus spectator. The match where Mohun Bagan beat their rivals by Debasish Sarkar and Chima’s goal was also one of my most favourite matches as I never seen Bagan in such dominating mood ever. The matches were 1,30,000 people came to see was also a match which I cannot forget. Of course it is not the Diamond Match where we lost 4-1. But the match where Dipendu Biswas made the difference.
One must not forget Mr. Barreto, when there is talk of Derby. His commitment, his honesty towards his profession, his perfection and of course his ability to play the big match made him so special to the supporters. The way he delivered in the Derby matches so consistently, I cannot think about anyone when it comes to my best player in Derby.
This year, the way IFA is trying to organise the Derby, it is really unfortunate. How could a Mohun Bagan and East Bengal match be organised in front of only 7500 people? How a Derby could be held in Kalyani where there is no infrastructure to have such big match? How could Mohun Bagan or East Bengal take the risk of satisfying the members with only 2000 tickets when they have already agreed to give 4000 tickets. Being a part of legal profession I can say that the “Rules and Regulations of the Society are nothing but a contract between the management and the members and the rights and duties arising out of regulations are contractual in nature. Membership under a society is merely a contractual”. Now if a member sues the club for not providing him ticket to see the match, who will be responsible? Thinking of Derby anywhere in West Bengal excepting YBK, is an impossible proposition.
Finally, A Derby cannot be predicted. One early red card or penalty or any crucial decision can change the entire scenario. This is the match which gives birth to the stars. You cannot say, after this match one Balumuchu or Tapan Maity or even one Saran Singh cannot be a star of the future. It s true this time East Bengal have more players who knows the pulse of the match like Dika or Mehtab or even Dong. But if Sankarlal can arrange the defensive discipline with 4-5-1 formation with Amiri in front of Double Stopper with specific instructions to him to look after Dong, anything can happen. Our Goal Keeper and the Defenders should be more cautious at the time of corner or free kick. So, I am very hopeful to get full 3 points. But for that players will have to play with their hearts. So, I have started countdown keeping my fingers crossed for a Bagan win. Let’s pray to God….
– Sourav Ganguly