London: Indian Fans’ Alliance UK celebrate EB – MB rivalry with socio – cultural fervour the Bengal way

It was celebrated with the usual fervour of ‘saabkhelar sera bangalirtumi football’ and delectable illish – chingri cuisines organised by Heritage Bengal Global (HBG), the diaspora of Bengalis with roots in Bengal.

One of the most popular amongst annual cultural and community events in UK after Durgapujo, the football tournament this year also received endorsement from Berks and Bucks FA, recognising it as a community development initiative.

The other major highlight of the tournament was the participation of the Indian Government officials settled in UK, as part of ‘azadi ki amritmahotsav’ celebration of 75th year of Indian Independence; and won the Aidias Super Shield 2022 as ‘Friends of Heritage Bengal Global’, defeating both the EB and MB fans teams, who came second in their respective groups’ league.

Several diversified Academic and Corporate entities from Bengal like Sister Nivedita University, IIHM, Aditya Academy, Aidias Consulting, iLEAD, Acquist Reality, Chess Solicitor and George Telegraph institute supported the tournament, along with the clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan themselves. Pointers Business Forum of Kolkata, a growing ecosystem of MSME businesses also supported the event.

Indian Football Association’s hony. secretary, Anirban Dutta praised the efforts of IFASUK to spread the sporting tradition of Bengal globally, mixed with the emotion of the Bengali diaspora in three continents and connecting them over football. Secretary of Mohammedan Sporting club, Dipendu Biswas expressed his keen interest to collaborate in next year’s tournament, thus completing the trio along with EB and MB.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) was a big attraction in this year’s event with senior level officers being present throughout the tournament and gave away prized at the end of nearly six hours of football, fun and entertainment.

Kreamz East Bengal kid fans won the Aditya Academy IFA Shield UKfor Kids; and HDFC Mohun Bagan women fans won the IIHMIFA Shield UK for Women in surprise display of their talents in kicking football in the penalty shootouts for ladies.The coveted SNU IFA ShieldUK for Men was won by Colours of India East Bengal fans team who defeated Chess Solicitors Mohun Bagan by a solitary goal in a keenly contested final.

ChimaOkerie, the original Kolkata maidan legend to don both EB and MB jerseys in the ‘80s and ‘90s and a regular visitor in this annual tournament for last four years essayed the role of the referee in the inaugural fans derby match, as the designated FA referees couldn’t attend due to covid.  He also launched the IFA Shield UK 2022 theme song sung by Bollywood famed Amit Kumar on the previous day of the tournament at the statue of Swami Vivekananda at Harrow, who only professed that one can reach God faster through football than through the Gita.

This year’s tournament also had another first, with organisers following global standards for environment, social and governance (ESG) compliances with help of Kolkata based consulting firm Futurestation.

The organising committee of Heritage Bengal Global in London led by Vice President Mahua Bej and members Sourav Pal, SayantanChakravorty, RajibSaha, Ramita Ghoshactively coordinated with the team in Kolkata namely Debashis Ghosh.Subir Das, Subhojit Choudhury and Kaushik Ghoshto facilitate the logistics and media connect at both ends. Atanu Biswas and AvijitBag from Leeds and Sanjay Guha from Mumbai, as EB fan from overseas also joined the event.

And nothing could beat the enthusiasm and excitement of the women and kids at the Slough FC stadium which displayed the spirit of the culture as well as sports heritage of Bengal in its true essence. Many ladies had put up stalls at the venue with commodities ranging from men and women’s accessories, health and beauty products and food extravaganza celebrating traditions of Bengal including ‘Calcutta biryani’ on occasion of Eid festival on Sunday.

HBG Director, Anirban Mukhopadhyay was happy to add, “This year’s success and enthusiasm have already caught the attention of the army and nest year we might see all the three British armed forces participating. Next watch out for the Atlanta edition of Indian Fans’ Alliance Shield Global on August 14th and the Sydney edition on November 26th this year.”