East Bengal Football Club (founded on August 1, 1920), is forming a women’s football team in its centenary year. The Indian Football Association (IFA) – the body that administers the sports in the state – wants some good, strong teams in women’s football and had thus asked three major clubs in West Bengal to prepare their own women’s teams.
The first to have responded has been East Bengal – with renowned footballer Kuntala Ghosh Dastidar appointed as coach. She has been captain of the Indian national women’s football team and represented the country in international competitions.
The trial and selection procedure was conducted over the past few days – with over 150 women participating. On Wednesday, 25 are scheduled to be finalised. The women have come to Kolkata from some of the remotest areas of the state.
And all this is to prepare for the Calcutta Women’s League – a state-level women’s football league – that will take place in the third week of December every year with about 25 teams participating every year.
“It is very encouraging for women footballers if the big clubs come forward to have their own women’s teams. I hope in future, more and more women will be interested in playing football too,” said Kuntala Ghosh Dastidar.
According to East Bengal secretary Raja Guha, “Earlier too, we had a women’s football team that had participated in the league. After a gap of several years, we are putting together a team again. I hope things will be even better in future.”
But even as East Bengal has been forming its women’s football team, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting Club have not shown enthusiasm so far. Officials of both teams say that lack of funds is the main issue, as there are no “big sponsors” for either of the two clubs. Thus, neither Mohun Bagan, nor Mohammedan SC has any plan to launch women’s football teams as of now.
However, the IFA authorities – that are the organisers of the Calcutta Women’s League – are still hopeful that both big clubs that are big names in men’s football and among the oldest in the country might change their position on this and participate in the Calcutta Women’s League that starts from the third week of December.
As of now, the participants are Dipti Sangha, Sribhumi Sporting Club, Kolkata Police, West Bengal Police, SSB Battalion, Chandni Sporting, Maitri Samsad, Manik Football Coaching, among others. It is to be seen whether the enthusiasm around women’s football league increases due to the participation of the big clubs – at least one major club, East Bengal, for now.
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