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Sunday’s Big Kolkata Derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan could feature plenty of players up against their former club, who would thus be looking to prove a point. Sportskeeda lists the ‘old boys’.
Nirmal Chettri (Former club: East Bengal; Current club: Mohun Bagan)
The Sikkimese joined East Bengal from Air India as a 17-year-old and soon became a first-team regular despite his tender age. Operating both at center and right back, Nirmal established himself as one of East Bengal’s most reliable players. He also scored the opener in the infamous 3-5 defeat to Mohun Bagan in 2009. Now an India international, he won six major trophies with the red-and-gold brigade in his four-year spell, including two Federation Cups. This will be his first game against East Bengal after leaving for arch-rivals Mohun Bagan earlier this summer. He was always a favourite among East Bengal supporters especially on social medial platforms and it remains to be seen what kind of a reception he gets on Sunday.
Snehashish Chakraborty (Former club: East Bengal; Current club: Mohun Bagan)
The left winger got his first taste of the Indian top flight football as a teenager at East Bengal, but despite some exciting displays, he was never a regular and thus moved to United Sports Club (Prayag United) in 2008. After having an outstanding season there, Snehashish was handed a big offer from Mohun Bagan in the summer of 2009, and that is when the controversy started, as East Bengal claimed that they already had captured Snehashish’s signature for the 2009-10 season.
Snehashish claimed that East Bengal had forged his signature, but after an IFA investigation it was found that the left-footed player’s allegations were baseless, and he eventually had to pay a fine of Rs. 2 lakh to get a clearance to sign for Bagan. Snehashish had some personal revenge that season as he scored in Mohun Bagan’s 2-1 win over East Bengal. But despite spending more than three seasons with the green-and-maroon brigade now, he is yet to do justice to his potential, with the ‘signature controversy’ possibly still affecting him.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo (Former club: Played for both; Current club: Mohun Bagan)
The Kashmiri’s first big move was to Mohun Bagan in 2005 and he spent two seasons in his first spell there, winning the Federation Cup and also earning his first international cap. He joined East Bengal in 2007, but despite spending four years there he never rediscovered the form and early promise that he had shown as a central midfielder while at Mohun Bagan. However he did win the Federation Cup twice with East Bengal and kept his place in the national squad. After one uneventful season at Salgaocar, he is back where it all started seven years ago.
Mehtab Hossain (Former club: Mohun Bagan; Current club: East Bengal)
After impressing at Tollygunge Agragami and Mohammedan Sporting, Mehtab was roped in by Mohun Bagan, where he became a much better midfielder and even scored against East Bengal as Mohun Bagan skipper. Predictably, East Bengal were eager to get him and Mehtab joined them in 2007, which angered Mohun Bagan officials and fans, although they have been trying to re-sign the player ever since. Mehtab is now in his sixth season at East Bengal but has only peaked after the arrival of English coach Trevor Morgan, as he was adjudged FPAI Indian Player and Fans’ Player of the Year in 2011. Mehtab is one of the first names in Morgan’s team sheet, and his fine club form has seen him become a regular for India as well.
Ishfaq Ahmed (Former club: Mohun Bagan; Current club: East Bengal)
Although Ishfaq spent one season with Goan giants Dempo, it was the four-year spell at Mohun Bagan that brought him to the limelight. Ishfaq’s best season was the 2008-09 season when he was possibly the best wide player of the I-League, as he terrorised opposition defences with his direct running and also chipped in with some vital goals. He was desperately unlucky not to get a national call-up after that season, and has been unable to reproduce that form ever since. The Arsenal supporter was a real fans’ favourite at Mohun Bagan, but will be lining up on the other side for the very first time in this big derby. Maybe the fact that he joined East Bengal from Salgaocar and not directly from Mohun Bagan will spare him some boos.
Syed Rahim Nabi (Former club: East Bengal; Current club: Mohun Bagan)
A product of the Tata Football Academy, Nabi joined East Bengal in 2004 as a raw talent after a two-year stint at Mohammedan Sporting. The versatile player spent seven seasons for the red-and-gold brigade, winning almost every major trophy barring the I-League. It was at East Bengal under Subhas Bhowmick, that Nabi stopped playing as a non-prolific striker and was converted into a wingback who could also operate as a midfielder.
Nabi’s fighting spirit was always his standout quality and he would often save his best for the derbies. He used to score regularly against Mohun Bagan with the brace in the 3-0 win in February 2009, which ended Bagan’s ten-match winning run, being his best ever display in an East Bengal shirt. Possibly India’s most consistent player now, Nabi left as a finished article for Mohun Bagan in 2011 having given everything for East Bengal, and thus is still respected by their fans.
Edeh Chidi (Former club: Mohun Bagan; Current club: East Bengal)
Chidi is the only foreigner in this list, but has special significance in this historic derby as the Nigerian became the first player to score four goals in this fixture. That feat was achieved in Mohun Bagan colours in that historic 5-3 victory over East Bengal on October 25 2009. It was the first time Mohun Bagan had put five past their fierce rivals and thus those four goals has ensured the Nigerian striker’s place in the club’s folklore. Chidi would just spend two seasons at Mohun Bagan, leaving in 2011, but that four-goal performance prevented him from directly joining East Bengal as he felt that ‘he couldn’t betray the Mohun Bagan fans’. However, just after one season at Salgaocar, Chidi is back in Kolkata and now is a key player for East Bengal. It would be interesting to see whether he celebrates against his old club if he manages to find the back of the net on Sunday.
Honourable mentions
Tolgay Ozbey (Former club: East Bengal; Current club: Mohun Bagan): His transfer saga earlier this year would always be considered one of the most dramatic in recent times, but the Aussie has only resumed training after his knee surgery and is ruled out of Sunday’s clash.
Khelemba Singh (Former club: East Bengal; Current club: Mohun Bagan): Was at East Bengal for one season in 2008-09 but failed to impress. The Manipuri has only just recovered from injury and illness, but with so many injuries in the Mohun Bagan side, he could still feature in the game.
Rajiv Ghosh (Former club: East Bengal; Current club: Mohun Bagan): The young fullback spent the 2010-11 season with East Bengal but hardly got any playing time. Like Khelemba, he too could play some part as Mohun Bagan have numerous injury problems.
