Famous Sporting Rivalries: The Passion of the Kolkata Derby

The stars aligned recently with two striking moments in my life. First, Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Emami East Bengal 2-0 in the latest Kolkata Derby, an event that reverberates across Indian football. And second, while moving homes, I stumbled upon an old notebook from January 2006, full of notes from my first full month covering the National Football League. Set in Kolkata, the experience reignited memories of one of India’s most storied football rivalries.

At my then-COO Gary Lovejoy’s suggestion, I documented my return to Kolkata after a seven-year gap. This time, I had the luxury of staying in a high-end hotel and exploring the city on my own. On my first day, I enjoyed a biryani lunch with my maternal uncle and met a team passionate about football, including director David Horridge, ex-England international Russell Osman, and the late Noel da Lima Leitao, a Goan football devotee who was also on the board of Vasco Sports Club.

Covering games at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium was awe-inspiring. We had all heard about its massive scale, but stepping inside the iconic venue was an entirely new experience. I chuckled at the memory of trekking up to the commentary box—a cardio workout on its own.

I recall vividly the tension surrounding Mohammedan Sporting’s tight 1-0 win over Mohun Bagan, the first match I called there. The late Mohammed Habib, Mohammedan’s coach, was overwhelmed with tears of joy. Mid-month, I took a brief trip south, leaving some clothes at my grandmother’s place. When I returned to Kolkata on January 20, I met up with my brother and visited several relatives, grounding me in both family and football.

Derby Day on January 22 dawned bright, and I ventured out for a photography walk among the city’s heritage buildings, only to be halted by an unwelcome “CARD ERROR” on my camera. Still, I managed a quick spot of cricket and tennis viewing back at the hotel before diving into match preparations.

Attempts to engage the coaches for insights failed—Mohun Bagan’s Jahar Das declined, and East Bengal’s Belgian boss Philippe de Ridder, ever the character, laughed about his team teasing him over his use of “you know.” The match itself, closely watched by a passionate crowd, lacked its usual fire, with both teams seemingly more afraid to lose than eager to win. Yet the rivalry persisted, as my words to the audience reflected: “Everton-Liverpool, AC Milan-Inter, Brazil-Argentina… eat your heart out—THIS is the mother of all football battles.”

In Kolkata, rivalries don’t just play out on the field. They live on, embedded in memories, passions, and that little notebook from 2006.