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What's the story?
With the I-League running in full flow, the focus is slowly shifting towards the big game of the Indian football season -- the ‘Kolkata Derby’ -- between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
Mohun Bagan, who are the host’s of the first derby, have decided to provide all those who have East Bengal membership cards, with free tickets.
In Case you didn’t Know
The big match of Indian football is set to be played on 3rd December at the Salt Lake Stadium. People are already buying the limited amount of tickets, which are available online. some have already started flocking both the club tents to buy tickets for the first I-League derby of the season and also the first derby in VYBK Kolkata after two long years.
Heart of the matter
With the decision to provide free tickets for the members of their rival club, Mohun Bagan have got themselves a positive marking from the opposition. It also comes as a sigh of relief for the members of both the clubs who spend a fortune in renewing their yearly club membership subscriptions.
In return, their arch-rivals East Bengal are also said to be willing to return the favour, by offering free tickets to the members of Mohun Bagan in the return leg, which takes place in January.
What's Next?
Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, being the two giant clubs left in the I-League, are the favourites to win the title, especially with Bengaluru FC moving to the ISL. However, the likes of Minerva Punjab and defending champions Aizawl FC have performed well, and the two Kolkata giants need to pull up their socks if they are to win the title.
Author’s Take
This type of brotherhood gestures from two of the biggest rivals in Indian football only goes to show that the two Kolkata clubs live and breathe due to their massive fan-base. It also helps a lot of financially poor fans who are members of the clubs and spend nearly a fortune on renewing their memberships.
