East Bengal F.C: The Colour of my Blood

When I was small, I did not understand how people loved football. All I saw were some guys kicking a ball here and there. In order to inspire me with some interest in football, my father, who is a quintessential Bengali football enthusiast, took me down to the ground each day and made me kick the ball over and over again. I would sometimes run away to play in the park. But he did not give up on me. As I grew up I slowly started picking up on a knack for the game and soon surpassed him in knowledge about the game, the players, the clubs, the tournaments and nowadays the exciting game fascinates me every day.

When I was eight years old, one evening my father saw me playing football with my friends and decided to admit me to a local football academy named Bengal Heroes Football School. Day by day I became better, picked up on skills and one day I finally beat my father in a 1on 1 match. As a reward he took me to watch my first Kolkata Derby clash between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan FC. Let me just mention here that my whole family, most of my friends, my father’s friends and colleagues, my maternal family, my mother, her friends and colleagues are all die-hard East Bengal supporters. So, needless to say, growing up I also became an East Bengal supporter.  While on our way I to the stadium that day I learned from my father that my maternal great grandfather used to play for East Bengal during the British times. My first ever football match in the stands did not go well as East Bengal lost 2-0. But to cheer me up, my father said, “Don’t worry! East Bengal has won more head-to-head matches with Mohun Bagan”.

Over the years I grew more emotionally attached to the East Bengal team as what followed were defeats, sarcastic insults, and tears which flooded my heart. But during the darkest times there seemed to be a ray of hope. Charles Cuadrat and Cleiton Silva won the Kalinga Super Cup in 2024 as coach and captain respectively, which was our first major trophy after 12 long years. We also defeated Mohun Bagan 1-0 in a Derby, which I fortunately went to see. But our happiness was short lived, once again one manager came and went and season after season East Bengal failed to qualify even for the ISL play-offs. But then came Oscar Bruzon, the Spaniard who would cure the deep old wounds that the club had suffered. He silently built a team that had that fighting spirit, the team now consisted of players who were willing to win the ball back even if it wasn’t their fault and finally came the season which would get etched in every East Bengal supporters’ heart.

East Bengal FC was in the top spot and were the favourites to win the ISL with one game to spare. Four teams were still locked in the title race. So I begged my father to take me to the Kishore Bharati Kirangan to watch the final game but due to his work pressure, he couldn’t manage. We watched the match on TV as East Bengal defeated Inter Kashi to beat the Mariners on goal difference and win the ISL for the first time. I started screaming so loudly that I broke my voice. I would always remember the date 21st May 2026, 9:45 PM. My happiness knew no bounds after so many years of struggle East Bengal had finally done it. I couldn’t believe this was really happening. It really took a day to settle in. The next day’s lunch theme was celebrating East Bengal so we had delicious sorshe illish (traditional hilsa dish made with mustard paste and green chillies; my favourite) which was cooked by my grandma as it is considered one of the delicacies in our home. Wishing East Bengal all the very best for their future .

Joy East Bengal !

Note : The idea for the story was provided to me by my dear Kallol uncle.

FAQs: East Bengal F.C: The Colour of my Blood I Blog By Rishit

What is the main theme of this story?
The story explores the bond between a father and son through their shared love for football and their unwavering support for East Bengal FC.

How did the author’s interest in football begin?
The author’s father introduced him to football by regularly taking him to the ground and encouraging him to play, even when he initially showed little interest.

Which football academy did the author join?
The author joined Bengal Heroes Football School at the age of eight.

Why is the Kolkata Derby special in the story?
The Kolkata Derby between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan FC represents the deep football culture of Kolkata and holds special emotional significance for the author’s family.

Which team does the author support?
The author is a passionate supporter of East Bengal FC, following a family tradition.

What family connection does the author have with East Bengal?
The author’s maternal great-grandfather played for East Bengal FC during the British era.

What was East Bengal’s biggest achievement mentioned in the story?
The club won the Indian Super League title for the first time in 2026, creating a memorable moment for its supporters.

Why was winning the ISL title so emotional for East Bengal fans?
The victory came after years of struggles, disappointing seasons, and missed opportunities, making it a historic and emotional achievement.

What role did the author’s father play in his football journey?
His father nurtured his love for football, enrolled him in an academy, took him to matches, and shared the history and traditions of the sport with him.

What message does the story convey?
The story highlights the power of perseverance, family influence, sporting passion, and the emotional connection fans share with their favorite clubs.

Where can you buy the books?

You can buy the books at Bookosmia and Amazon.

https://www.amazon.in/dp/816855552X

Voices of Play: A National Play Manifesto By Children, Of Children and For Every Caring Adult is a Bachpan Manao Collabaction by REACH India Collective, Shiksharth, and EkStep Foundation. Published by Bookosmia. Contributors: Deepika Mogilishetty, Ashish Shrivastava, Archana Mohan, Keren Sam, Samyuktha Udupa. Made possible by 22 partner organisations who captured the voices of over 4,000 children across 10 states. Does Play have a voice? What does Voices of Play mean? Across ten states and shaped by over 4,000 children, Voices of Play is a joyful window into the world of play told by children themselves. Brought to life with the support of 22 organisations, achored by Ek Step Foundation’s Bachpan Manao program, it gathers stories, games, and memories from anganwadis, community spaces, preschools, and classrooms—capturing a rich tapestry of childhoods and the worlds of play around us we may have never noticed before. With artwork recreated from children’s own drawings and moments captured from the field, this book, published proudly by Bookosmia (smell of books) is made with children, not just about them. Built on their trust, it celebrates play as imagination, memory, and a language that belongs to every child.

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This article is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.

Photo Credit – AI generated images from Chat GPT and Magic Media from Canva .

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