After a gap of probably ten years, the Kolkata derby between east Bengal and Mohun Bagan is going to take place at the Salt lake Stadium in the I-league in the coming season.
The All India Football federation top brass has informed about the situation to both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan club management on Monday. The reason is that the Salt Lake Stadium is going to be handed over to the Fifa as the ground has been chosen as one of the key venues for the under-17 World Cup, to be held in India in 2017.
As an aftermath, the AIFF has given three alternative options to the clubs to stage the derby match in the I-League. Those three options are Cuttack, Ranchi and Siliguri.
And East Bengal club management is reportedly keen to stage the derby at Cuttack in Orissa. Club secretary Kalyan Majumder said on Monday, “We could also stage the match in Siliguri. But most of the fans in Siliguri are East Bengal fans. I do not think Mohun Bagan will be agreed to participate in the derby in Siliguri. So, Cuttack should the ideal neutral venue.”
Mohun Bagan Club also has reportedly agreed with East Bengal secretary’s plans of staging the match at Cuttack.
Incidentally, in a bid to generate revenues for the club, East Bengal club’s executive committee, at a scheduled meeting on Monday, has decided to start merchandising of the team’s products like jersey, wrist-watch.
Even, decision has been taken to allow the club’s members and the fans to use the gym and the team buys against some fees for their respective occasions.