33 Times Champions East Bengal is ready to defend their Kolkata League Title

Thursday, August 16, 2012 Report by Rajarshi Ghosh

33 times Champion East Bengal will start their campaign of Sahara Kolkata League from 17TH August against Eastern Railway SC. East Bengal club had a rich history and the football traditional is very strong, with enormous Fan base around the world. More over, they are the most successful team of Kolkata League.

East Bengal are the most Successful Team of Kolkata League. Now Why I am saying “Most Successful” Team? They have won the championship for the maximum times, 33 times. Is that the only reason? No. There are also many more reasons which make us feel proud to be an East Bengal supporter.

East Bengal was born in 1920. There are also many more clubs who were formed many more years before the East Bengal Club. But, being the younger club of pre-independence, East Bengal Club won the League for record 33 times.

Not only that, East Bengal is the only Club who has won the Kolkata League without conceding a goal twice – 1972 and 1991. This is a rare achievement that has achieved by any club of India.

Another achievement of East Bengal Club is winning the League without losing any point twice – 1975 and 1977. This is also a rare achievement that has achieved by any club of India.

East Bengal won the League as an unbeaten champion for a record 15 times; 1950, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2000.

East Bengal won the League for a record consecutive Six times in a row from 1970 to 1975.
Now the above statistics are enough to say that East Bengal Club is the Most Successful Team of Kolkata League.

Coming to the current season, East Bengal has the best balanced side at this moment. With most of the players are playing together for three years, it has brought a good understanding and bonding in the team. Each player knows what his teammates are capable of and according to that they play.

Coach Trevor James Morgan’s presence has always made the difference to East Bengal team. His experience gave East Bengal success in the last two seasons. When Coach Morgan took the responsibility of the team, East Bengal’s confidence level was pretty low with winning the lone Federation Cup in two seasons. From there the Team has won almost all the Trophies and was close to win the I-League in both occasions under Coach Morgan. So this season also he is expecting to win the Kolkata League to complete a Hat-trick.

This season, East Bengal has got experienced Striker Chidi Edeh who single handedly can change the faith of a match. With Chidi, East Bengal has Talented and Experience striker like Baljit Singh Sahni, Branco Vincent Cardoz, Seiminlen Doungel and Robin Singh.

In midfield we have the two backbone of the team, Mehtab Hossain and Penn Orji. Along with these two genius the team had, Sanju Pradhan, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Khanthang Paite, Reisangmi Vashum, Charan Rai, Subodh Karmakar and Ishfaq Ahmed. These players will never give any opponent to dominate in mid-field.

Defence has experienced players like Okpara, Saumik Dey, Naoba Singh, Raju Eknath Gaekwad, Arnab Mondal, Gurwinder Singh, Robert Lalthlamuana.

With such a balance team this season, it will be difficult for any team to stop East Bengal from winning the 34th Sahara Kolkata League.