Firdous Hassan
Kolkata, Dec 25: Support in huge proportion is expected to pour in for Real Kashmir FC here at Salt Lake Stadium as Mohun Bagan FC fans have decided to cheer for the visitors, who will face East Bengal FC on Fridayin the ongoing I-League 2018-19.
The Kolkata tour, which comprises of two matches for Real Kashmir, will begin with a game against East Bengal FC.
The rivalry between the two Giants of Kolkata dates back to 1920 when a dejected Chief Executive of Mohun Bagan formed a parallel club after alleging disparity with a star player.
Last week the fight between the local clubs dominated social media and in stadium as well after East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan 3:2.
The enraged Mohun Bagan fans alleged “selective referring” in the match.
Bapi Maji, a tea seller popularly known as lucky mascot of Mohun Bagan, has decided to lead the fans in the stadium to cheer for RKFC.
“We have been eagerly waiting for the match and we will support Real Kashmir FC like we do for our Mohun Bagan,” he said.
Maji, a cancer survivor, said he, along with scores of the Mohun Bagan Fan Club, will assemble at a selected place in the stadium to wave the RKFC flag.
“We were overwhelmed with the support during team’s Kashmir tour. At least 25 fans leading Mohun Bagan fan club have sought tickets for the match to cheer for RKFC,” he said.
Amit Das, 32 a local auto-rickshaw driver, who attends every match of Mohun Bagan FC, said he, along with his family, will watch the match against East Bengal.
“Soon after losing match to East Bengal, fans like me have decided to support RKFC in the coming game as they have got the potential to give East Bengal a tough competition,” he said.
Hundreds of Kashmiri fans are also expected to be in the stadium on Friday when their businesses are usually shut in Kolkata.
“Many Kashmiris live here for the entire winter for business purpose. As the coming match is scheduled on Friday and our team is doing well, we all have decided to watch the game and cheer for Kashmir. We witnessed all the team’s matches in Srinagar,” said Qazi Muhammad, a trader dealing with Pashmina Shawls in Kolkata.
