SC East Bengal vs ATK Mohun Bagan: 'Old' Kolkata Derby hopes to spruce up new-age ISL

KOLKATA, India - Nov. 26, 2020 - PRLog -- The answer to this question is pivotal to the fledgling tournament's fortunes as it has pinned hopes of the 2020-21 edition's success on this much-documented rivalry.

Despite promising to be India football's 'New Wave' since its inception in 2014, it is ironic that ISL had to end up with the age-old Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal contest as the seventh edition's USP.

Undoubtedly, the two decorated Maidan clubs would add a new chapter to their fascinating rivalry, brewing since 1921, on Friday.

Though taking different routes for entry in the top-tier league, both were forced to relinquish administrative control to be deemed 'fit' to play.

Their entries weren't without controversy, doubts still linger over safeguarding interests of thousands of members and countless supporters of the community clubs in their new corporate versions.

Yet both these institutions-turned-private outfits are determined to put these murmurs behind, knowing full well a Derby victory would make them instantly acceptable to fans of all age and walks of life.

Regardless of the game's outcome, ISL organisers are licking their chops at mass viewership and organic social media engagement, indicative of the league's wholehearted acceptance in Indian football's traditional hotbed of Kolkata.

Which explains why Derby promotions began well before action started on November 20, even overshadowing the opening game's publicity.

In its first six years, ISL aggressively promoted several regional match-ups as 'Derby'. But it is only now that it can flaunt a real, historic rivalry in its ranks.


Promo videos, statistics have all been dug up to whet the appetite of the fanatics. Not that they mind, happily lapping up vignettes of memorable past Derby victories.

How much they would dearly pray for a debut ISL Derby win, which would go down in history, as Bagan's victory (3-0 after replay) in their first meeting at Cooch Behar Cup in 1921 and East Bengal's 1-0 win in 1925 Calcutta Football League (CFL) have been.

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