Calcutta League best ad for Indian football

NEW DELHI (India): When all the city leagues are almost dead in the country and Indian Super League (ISL) struggling to attract fans, the Calcutta Football League (CFL) remain so relevant in Indian football.

The CFL has stood the test of time, and has lasted for over a century since it was started in 1898.

Whoever said, Calcutta has lost the tag of ‘Mecca of India Football’ was proved wrong after 2019 CFL witnessed one of the most keenly-contested tournaments in recent years.

The local league is the best ad for Indian football as it was witnessed when Peerless FC broke the monopoly of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting this season to win the title with 23 points from 11 matches.

They became the first side since Eastern Railway won the title 1958 to achieve this feat. But ER had Olympians PK Banerjee, Anil and Nikhil Nandy in their crack side.

In fact, Peerless coach Jahar Das should be credited for such a huge honour for a team, which was formed as an official outfit.

A former Bagan player, Das opted for locals like Avinabo Bag and experienced foreigners Antony Wolfe (Trinidad & Tobago), who adapted to August-September humidity and slushy ground conditions.

Besides, the team’s foreign additions were massive influences in their triumph.

Kromah’s star show

Liberian striker Ansumana Kromah, ended up the season’s top scorer with 13 goals, more than half of the side’s tally as they beat both East Bengal and Bagan to win their maiden crown.

Peerless’ triumph reflects the city’s passion for football and explains CFL’s continuing popularity amid the mud-slinging between I-League and ISL on the top-tier rights of Indian football.

The tussle for supremacy to win the local league still continues. It was evident from the large number of fans who flocked to watch East Bengal, Bagan and Mohammedan matches.

Iconic fans: Nobel laureates Sen & Banerjee

The tournament’s rich legacy is amazing. India’s first President Dr Rajendra Prasad, who spent his student days in Calcutta, was an ardent Bagan fan. He regularly visited the Maidan to watch their league matches.

Noted economists and Nobel Prize winners Amartya Sen and Abhijit Banerjee also watched CFL matches during their student days.

Banerjee, a passionate Bagan fan, received an honorary membership from the Mariners, who won the league for the first time in 1939 under Bimal Mukherjee.

Former Bengal Chief Ministers Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, Siddharta Shanker Ray and Jyoti Basu also witnessed matches at the Maidan.

When Chuni received biryani packets!

The charm and importance of CFL was evident when Bagan beat East Bengal 1-0, with the legend Chuni Goswami fired home the winner after a solo dribble on September 10, 1967.

East Bengal needed a win to regain the title, but since they lost Mohammedan Sporting became champions after a gap of 10 years.

The elated Mohammedan officials went to Goswami’s house with biryani packets from a renowned central Calcutta restaurant as a token of thanks.

The green and maroon side next won the title in 1943 and 1944, with Anil Dey as skipper.

Bagan’s glory years were from 1954-1968 when Chuni, Jarnail Singh, Mariappa Kempiah, TA Rehman, Arumainayagam and goalkeeper Prodyut Burman helped them with a hat-trick (1954-1956).