Durand Cup: The Kolkata Derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant has always been a tense affair right since its inception and the players need everything to go their way for a positive outcome.
East Bengal has been in a state of disarray for the last few years but it touched a new low on Friday when the Red and Gold brigade had to reach the training ground in battery-operated rickshaws and app-cabs because the team bus, which was supposed to arrive at 6pm, did not reach on time.
The East Bengal management shied away from responsibility when asked about the affair, claiming the Durand committee is in charge of arranging the bus and not the team management.
In a viral video on YouTube, the East Bengal team is seen arriving on app cabs, battery-operated rickshaws and some on foot. When queried about the bus, one of the East Bengal players says, “No bus”.
“It should not have happened before a derby. But I heard that it was unintentional and such things should be kept in check,” East Bengal executive committee member Debabrata Sarkar told The Indian Express when asked about the outage.
“Durand Committee arranges the bus, not club management,” said another source close to the East Bengal team management who did not wish to be named.
“Had they informed us before, the East Bengal club could have arranged a bus. But by the time we received the information (which was ten minutes after six) from the committee, it was too late.
“The bus only arrived 20 mins after practice began, and coach Carles Cuadrat was naturally not pleased at all,” the source added.
The giants of Indian football face off in the first Kolkata Derby of the season in a Durand Cup tie.
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