On December 27, 2023, Mohun Bagan SG are set to play their last game of the year against Kerala Blasters at their home ground, Salt Lake Stadium, in the ongoing ISL 10. After going unbeaten in the first five games, they have suffered back-to-back defeats in their last two matches. So, Juan Fernando and his men will look for a winning finish to 2023.
Ahead of this clash, one of MBSG’s three captains, Subhasish Bose, had an interaction with the ISL media and shared insights into his journey, the impact of football in India, and the transformative role of the Indian Super League (ISL) in shaping the dreams of the current generation.
Having donned the Indian national team jersey 34 times so far, the 28-year-old Bose also opened up about being part of the national team’s triumphs in the Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Championship. In the ISL, he has played for various clubs like Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, and now, Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
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Regarding the opportunities that the ISL has provided, Bose said: “There is a lot of opportunity and the ISL has helped spread the message amongst the masses that football can be taken up as a profession in India. When we started off, it was pure passion at play. I wasn’t sure whether I could sustain my family by merely playing the game. However, the ISL has helped bring in greater exposure and the league is helping the current generation dream big, become professional footballers, and represent their favourite clubs and most importantly, the country.”
He also expressed his love and gratitude to MBSG fans while confirming that winning the ISL trophy last season with Mohun Bagan was the highlight of his career so far. “I feel very passionate about playing for the Mariners, because I believe they are the best fans in the country,” said Bose. “Winning the ISL trophy with the Mohun Bagan Super Giant last season has been the highlight of my career in this league so far. We had been trying for that for many years and to achieve it finally was a great moment.
“Secondly, scoring against India’s best goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, during our matches against Bengaluru FC was a very memorable moment! Every game that I play in front of the Mohun Bagan crowd is something to cherish. Even when I am tired at around the 70-80 minute mark, they cheer us up and it energises me even more, encouraging me to perform even better.”
When he was asked about the century-old rivalry between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC, he said that it should be restricted to the field, and bad blood should not spill beyond the 90 minutes. “The fan base for Indian football has grown a lot,” said Bose. “Ever since childhood, as a Bengali boy, I didn’t talk to my friends who are East Bengal FC fans during the derby day. As a professional player, I believe that these things help grow Indian football. However, I would always insist for the rivalry to exist only for the 90 minutes that the game takes place. Now, I have a lot of friends who are East Bengal FC fans, but the rivalry between us remains only for the time of the game. After that, we go out, have dinner, have fun et cetera.
“The fan base for Indian football has grown a lot. People used to consume only European football, mainly the English Premier League (EPL), earlier. But, that interest is getting converted into our sport now. Kolkata is known as the mecca of football in India because of the rivalry between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC.”
Bose also credited the ISL for helping him get acquainted with international expertise, in the form of coaches and players who have enabled him to discover a newer side to his play. “The Indian Super League (ISL) has helped Indian football and its players grow tremendously in the last decade,” he said. “Playing under foreign coaches and Spanish, French, and other teammates who have played for their national teams, has enabled us to improve our individual qualities too. It has encouraged us to play more fearlessly for the national team.”
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