Lucknow, often referred to as the “Constantinople of the East” due to its rich cultural diversity, has a longstanding history as a sporting city, having produced notable sports figures like hockey legend KD Singh ‘Babu’, athlete Henry Rebello, and badminton champion Syed Modi.
Now, the City of Nawabs is ready to host a major football event as the two iconic Indian football clubs, Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC, prepare to clash at Lucknow’s renowned KD Singh Babu Stadium on Monday, September 2, 2024. Despite having faced each other multiple times across India, these teams have never played in Lucknow. East Bengal, in its 104-year history, has never competed in Uttar Pradesh’s capital, while Mohun Bagan, established in 1889, returns to Lucknow after 69 years, having last played there on August 30, 1955, in a 1-1 draw against Lucknow XI.
Seizing this opportunity, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has launched an initiative to distribute 96,455 footballs across 75 districts and 21,551 schools through Navodaya Vidyalaya, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Government of India. To ensure a top-tier playing surface for the match, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, took swift action to prepare the KD Singh Babu Stadium.
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The promotional match is organized by the AIFF in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Uttar Pradesh Football Sangh, with the goal of promoting and developing football throughout the vast state. AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on August 8, 2024, in Lucknow, to discuss football development in the state and the upcoming match. In just three weeks, the stadium underwent extensive renovations and was ready for the big event.
Mohun Bagan’s head coach, Deggie Cardozo, praised the initiative, stating, “This is a great move by the AIFF President to popularize football in Uttar Pradesh. I hope this match will inspire more youngsters to take up the sport, leading to more quality players from UP in the future.” East Bengal’s head coach, Bino George, added, “Grassroots development is crucial, especially in a large state like Uttar Pradesh. If we can make football popular here, we could see many talented players emerge. I truly appreciate this initiative by the AIFF to bring such a significant match to Lucknow.”
Also Read: Vishal Kaith: The steady rise of Mohun Bagan’s ‘Falcon’