The Inndian Football Association (W.B.) has awarded three points to Kingfisher East Bengal in their penultimate match of Super 9 of Kolkata Premier League as Prayag United have forfeited their match scheduled for 21st May, 2013.

East Bengal Club today celebrated “Rabindra Jayanti” at the Club premises to mark the 152nd Birth Anniversary of great poet & novelist Rabindranath Tagore.

The program started with the opening speech of Club General Secretary Shri Kalyan Majumdar.

It was followed by dance performance by Shraddha amd Paulomi and recitation by Manashi Banerjee.

Vocal performance of Rabindra Sangeet were performed by Smt. Rajarshi Bhattacharya and Shaunak Chatterjee.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

Chidi Edeh scored a hat-trick as India’s East Bengal romped into the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup with a 5-1 win over Myanmar’s Yangon United on Wednesday.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

Nigerian midfielder Penn Orji opened the scoring for unbeaten Group H winners East Bengal after just two minutes at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium before Edeh added a second midway through the first half.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

East Bengal captain Hossain Mehtab extended the advantage three minutes after half-time before Edeh added a fourth with 18 minutes remaining.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

And Edeh sealed his hat-trick with his sixth goal of the campaign five minutes later as East Bengal became the first Indian side to reach the last eight of the AFC Cup since Dempo SC advanced to the semi-finals in 2008 after posting a fifth win in seven games.

Photo: kingfishereastengal.com

Yangon had only finished second in Group F behind Maldivian side New Radiant on goal difference after posting five wins, but only had a 79th minute consolation from Brazilian striker Cezar (Cézar Augusto Hermenegildo) to show for their efforts.

KINGFISHER EAST BENGAL: Abhijit Mondal, Naoba Singh, Arnab Mondal, Uga Okpara, Saumik Dey, Isheaq Ahmed. Mehtab Hossain, Penn Orji, Lalrindika Ralte (Sanju Pradhan), Andrew Barisic, Edeh Chidi

We cordially invite you to attend the celebration of “Rabindra Jayanti” in the evening of 17th May, 2013 at 6.00 p.m. at the East Bengal Club premises.

All Members & Fans requested to join to honuor our guest participants as follows:

1)    Vocal Performance Sounak Chatterjee and Rajashree Bhattacharjee

2)    Recitation by Manashi Banerjee

Coach Trevor Morgan has challenged East Bengal to seize a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup with victory over Myanmar’s Yangon United on Wednesday.

India’s East Bengal won Group H with an unbeaten record ahead of Malaysia’s Selangor and Morgan’s side know a third win of the campaign will secure a place in the quarter-finals ahead of the one-off last 16 tie.

Morgan, though, will be without striker Manandeep Singh and midfielder Harmanjot Khabra for the visit of Yangon to Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium.

“We will look to take advantage of playing at home and beat Yangon to qualify for the next stage,” said Morgan.

“These types of opportunities do not come along very often and we must take advantage of this chance.”

Myanmar champions Yangon, meanwhile, finished level on points with Maldivian champions New Radiant at the top of Group F after posting five wins, but Ivan Kolev’s side were forced to settle for second place on goal difference.

And Yangon’s of chances progressing have been further complicated with five players, including suspended Cote d’Ivoire defender Jean Patrice Gnonsian, ruled out for the trip to India.

But having scored 18 goals in six games during the Group Stage, Kolev insists his side are aiming for a third away win of the campaign to seal their place in the last eight.

“We are missing five players due to injury and suspensions. We know that East Bengal are a good side, but we will strive hard to win,” said the former Indonesia national team coach.

“We have not made any special preparations for the match against East Bengal as we have been concentrating on our local league matches recently.”

East Bengal lost to Shillong Lajong by 0-1 margin in an inconsequential match of I League played today Kalyani Stadium.

Taisuke Matsugane scored the winner for Lajong in the 8th minute of play.

KINGFISHER EAST BENGAL: Abhijit Mondal, Raju Gaikwad, Gurwinder Singh, Arnab Mondal, Robert Lalthlamuana, Reisangmei Vashum, Subodh Kumar, Cavin obo, Robin Singh (Edeh Chidi), Manandeep Singh, Baljit Sahni (Andrew Barisic)

Kingfisher East Bengal registered a 3-0 victory against CC & FC in an exhibition Five-A-Side scoccer match of the ongoing The Telegraph Cup Invitational Five-A-Side Corporate Football tournament  at the CC&FC, on today.

Uga Okpara, Robin Singh and Manandeep Singh scored for the red & golds.

Kingfisher is the co-sponsor of this corporate Five-A-Side soccer.

Kingfisher East Bengal returned to winning form thrashing United Sikkim 6-0 in a rescheduled 23rd round match of the I-League at the Salt Lake Stadium today.

East Bengal took the lead in the seventh minute when Naoba Singh released Orji Penn with a through-ball and the latter latched on to the pass and placed it past the United Sikkim goalkeeper Rakshit Kumar.

A back-header from Arnab Mondal almost gave United Sikkim the equaliser but their Spanish striker Pablo Aracil, who was unmarked in the box, delayed his response allowing East Bengal goalkeeper Arnab Mondal to retrieve the situation.

Mehtab Hossain made it 2-0 with a stunning finish in the 21st minute. The East Bengal captain finished with brilliant shot from around 25 yards as the ball sailed over the stranded Rakshit Kumar before settling in the net.

A series of good passes around the united Sikkim box saw Chidi setting up Lalrindika on top of the Sikkim box and the latter finished with a nice chip over Rakshit Kumar in the 35th minute to make it 3-0.

In the second half Nima Tamang made the first good attempt for United Sikkim firing a low drive which the East Bengal goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal collected on the second attempt.

Saumik Dey created a good opportunity for Mehtab in the 77th minute but the latter hesitated a bit and failed find the target. A minute later Chidi saw his attempt coming off the upright a minute later as East Bengal continued the goal hunt.

East Bengal returned to the scoring process in the 78th minute when substitute Cavin Lobo found the target when his attempt from outside struck the upright before going in. This opened the gates as East Bengal won a penalty in the 86th minute which Barisic scored.

A nice combination between Chidi and Penn inside the United Sikkim Box saw East Bengal adding one more to the tally. Chidi finished the move after Penn set him up on the goalmouth with a short pass bringing an end to the scoring process in the 88th minute.

KINGFISHER EAST BENGAL: Abhijit Mondal, Naoba Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Arnab Mondal, Saumik Dey, Ishfaq Ahmed (Sanju Pradhan), Mehtab Hossain, Penn Orji, Lalrindika Ralte (Cavin Lobo), Andrew Barisic, Edeh Chidi

East Bengal Club will complete 100 glorious years in 2020. To showcase and to build-up towards the monumental milestone the club has decided to organize pre-centenary celebration every year.

This will mark the beginning and start the countdown towards turning 100 years.

East Bengal Club will showcase the legacy and all the footprints of the several golden moments which this world renowned club and India numero uno football club and at present ranked 447  in IFFHS World Club Ranking which no other club in Indian football history has ever credited with.

In this year of 2013, the club is presenting a mega musical and entertainment night on 9th June at Salt Lake Stadium. The attraction for this year will be:

India’s heartthrob and action star…..Akhsay Kumar

India’s movie star…..Sonakshi Sinha

German Supermodel….Claudia Ciesla

Bengal’s Pride and Bollywood’s Superhit Musical genius…..Pritam

Bengal’s own golden voiced son……Shaan

Program host by small screen heartthrob…..Jay Bhanushali

Come Join us for this epic event and have chance to reach out to Millions !

It will be one high voltage 3 hours of pulsating music and breath taking performances. Akshay Kumar performing LIVE after 15 years in the City of Joy. There is lots of sponsorship opportunities.

Lets light the torch and make it a night to remember…………

For everything related to the program, details and commercial terms kindly contact:

Joydeb Mukherjee : 98310 08278

East Bengal played a 2-2 draw with Dempo SC in the I League match played today afternoon at Tilak Stadium, Vasco, Goa.

Penn Orji gave red & golds an early lead in 17th minute as he dodged past at least three Dempo shirts before placing the ball past Subasish Roychowdhury. Dempo restored parity three minutes after the lemon break as Joy Ferrao headed in a free-kick by Godwin Franco.

In the 74th minute John Menyongar gave Dempo the lead after the Liberian snatched the ball from the opponent's grasp and charged ahead to beat Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in his area. However East Bengal restored parity in the 83rd minute when Ishfaq Ahmed converted his chance after being set up by Barisic.

KINGFISHER EAST BENGAL: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Naoba Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Uga Okpara, Saumik Dey, Sanju Pradhan (Ishfaq Ahmed), Mehtab Hossain, Penn Orji (Andrew Barisic)), Lalrindika Ralte, Baljit Singh Sahni (Cavin Lobo), Edeh Chidi

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

East bengal created history by defeating Sai Gon Xuan Thanh (Vietnam) 4-1 in their last Group H match of AFC Cup 2013 played today at Salt Lake Stadium. With this win East Bengal entered the Pre Quarter Final Round remaining undefeated in the Group and also topping the same thereby becoming the FIRST INDIAN CLUB TO DO SO in the AFC Cup.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

An early penalty from Nigerian striker Chidi Edeh set East Bengal, who secured their place in the knockout stage last week, on their way before Australian frontman Andrew Barisic added a second on the stroke of half-time.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

And with Nigerian midfielder Penn Orji adding a quick-fire second-half double, unbeaten East Bengal secured home advantage in the last 16 with a fourth win of the campaign while ending Sai Gon’s hopes as Malaysia’s Selangor beat Tampines Rovers 3-2 in Singapore.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

Christian Amougou reduced the margin for Sai Gon Xuan Thanh in the 62nd minute. This was East Bengal's highest margin of victory in AFC Cup.

KINGFISHER EAST BENGAL: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Naoba Singh, Gurwinder Singh (Arnab Mondal), Uga Okpara, Saumik Dey (Robert Lalthlamuana), Sanju Pradhan (Ishfaq Ahmed), Cavin Lobo, Penn Orji, Lalrindika Ralte, Andrew Barisic, Edeh Chidi

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

Sai Gon Xuan Thanh will be forced into fielding a youthful side against East Bengal as the Vietnamese Cup winners seek to join the I-League side in the last 16 of the AFC by claiming at least a point at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium on Tuesday.

Tran Tien Dai’s side currently hold a three point lead over Malaysia’s Selangor in the battle to join East Bengal in the knockout stage from Group H following last week’s 2-2 draw with Singapore’s Tampines Rovers.

But with Sai Gon also knowing awin will see them leapfrog their hosts at the top of the table to claim home advantage in the last 16, coach Tien Dai will be forced into changes with striker Nguyen Rogerio suspended and several regular doubts due to injury.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

“Although the conditions are hot and humid we will strive to earn one point which will enable us to qualify,” said Sai Gon assistant coach Nguyen Liem Thanh.

“Many of our regulars are either injured or suspended and we will try some youngsters in the match.”

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan will also be forced to re-shuffle his side with captain Methab Hossain and midfielder Manadeep ruled out through suspension.

“Although we need only one point to top the group we will go all out for a win by taking advantage of the home conditions,” said Morgan.

“We would like to qualify for Round of 16 by remaining unbeaten in the group and our players will strive hard to achieve this feat.”

APOLOGY

We offer our unconditional apology for inadvertently displaying Logo of SEBI along with the Logo of other sponsors on our web site.  The error was totally unintentional and is deeply regretted.

Kalyan Majumdar

Hony. General Secretary

East Bengal Club

East Bengal were held to a 2-2 draw by Selangor FA in their Group H match of AFC Cup played today evening at Shah Alam Stadium, Malaysia.

For Video Click on:  Goals of the Match  

Penn Orji gave red & golds the lead in the the 23rd minute and Lalrindika Ralte doubled the lead with long ranger in the 54th minute. East Bengal were down to ten men in the last quarter as Manadeep Singh was given marching orders. The Malaysian outfit took advantage of the situation and they reduced the margin in the 79th minute through Shukhor.

Selangor kept pressure in the red & gold defense till the end and in the injury time they leveled the score therough Aizuddin and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

The hosts made a lively start to the match and they could have taken the lead when the lively Michal Kubala fired in a low shot from 25 metres that forced goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into a diving save.

But it was the visitors who would take the lead midway through the first half. Chidi Edeh attempted to burst through the middle of the Selangor defence but his progress was halted and the ball ricocheted off a Selangor defender to Orji, who took the ball into space on the left of the box before firing it between the legs of goalkeeper Sharbinee Allawee Ramli.

Selangor went close to levelling the score in the 35th minute when Raimi Mohd Nor fired a shot across the face of the East Bengal goal that was just too far in front of a lurking Ramzul Adenan.

The home side suffered a blow when Kubala had to be taken off injured just before half-time and things got worse early in the second half when Ralte fired home at the third attempt after Edeh’s shot had been saved by Sharbinee and Orji had his effort cleared by a defender.

East Bengal appeared to be coasting to victory until Manandeep saw red for a late sliding tackle on Kunanlan just a couple of minutes after he had come on as a substitute.

Selangor had offered little in attack to that point but they came out of their shell as Shukor Jusoh fired a fierce rising shot from 25 metres that found the top corner of the net despite Sandhu getting a touch to the ball.

The home side poured forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages and Kunanlan forced a good save out of Sandhu before the Red Giants got the equaliser deep into added time.

With almost all of the East Bengal players dropping back into their box to defend an Amri Yahyah free-kick, the ball was played instead to an unmarked Aizuddin, whose low drive from 30 metres went through a crowd of players and flashed past Sandhu to secure a point for the home side.

In other match of Group H, Sai Gon Xuan Thanh played a 2-2 with Tampines Rovers. East Bengal now top the group table with 11 points from five matches and they have qualified for the knock out of the AFC Cup 2013.

KINGFISHER EAST BENGAL: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Harmanjot Singh Khabra (Thockchom Naoba Singh), Gurwinder Singh, Uga Okpara, Robert Lalthlamuana, Ishfaq Ahmed, Mehtab Hossain, Penn Orji, Lalrindika Ralte, Andrew Barisic (Manandeep Singh), Edeh Chidi (Baljit Singh Sahni)

Notun asha,natun pran,

natun usha, natun alo ,natun bachar katuk valo...

SUBHO POILA BAISAKH

‘Poila Boisakh’ – Bengal’s New Year’s  Day was celebrated today at the East Bengal Club. As usual the nostalgic traditional rituals known as ‘Bar Puja’ was performed in the presence of club officials and members.

During the event, Mehtab Hossain was named as the Captain of Kingfisher East Bengal FC for the 2013-14 season. Harmanjot Singh Khabra was named as the Vice-Captain for the upcoming season.

Mehtab Hossain breaking the "coconut" on the goal post during the event.

Members and Fans in large numbers came to the ground and everyone was greeted with sweets by the Club.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

East Bengal’s title hopes took a heavy beating as the Kolkata giant played a 1-1 draw with Sporting Clube de Goa in a 24th round match of the I-League at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday. Sporting Clube de Goa went ahead in the first half off a Juan Pena long-ranger while East Bengal equalized through Edeh Chidi midway through the second half.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

Needing a win to keep their hope afloat, East Bengal crumbled to their fourth successive draw and fell further behind in the title race with Churchill Brothers. East Bengal could not make the right beginning as they conceded a goal in the first half. The home side enjoyed a flurry of attacks initially but failed to get the break. Sporting Clube de Goa goalkeeper Bruno Colaco made a spectacular save in the 21st minute when Chidi fired a rasping drive from inside the box.

East Bengal’s other forward Baljit Singh Sahni had another scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute but his header went wide.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

Sporting Clube de Gao came into the match thereafter and had the first notable attack in the 33rd minute when their attacking midfielder Ogba Kalu had a clear look on the East Bengal goal. The player faltered inside the opponent box missing the chance.

Juan Pena, the Spanish striker, found the lead for the visitors in the 44th minute when his swerving shot from outside the East Bengal box went in beating Abhijit Mondal in the goal.

East Bengal made desperate efforts to comeback in the second half. Uga Okpara saw his header on a Raju Gaekwad throw coming off the crosspiece in the 51st minute.

Chidi made no mistake with his next chance when he headed home a cross from Robert Lalthalmuana to level the score. East Bengal another chance to get into the lead in the 64th minute when Orji Penn found himself in a scoring position but the East Bengal midfielder tried a wild shot that went wide of the target.

East Bengal now have 43 points from 23 matches.

KINGFISHER EAST BENGAL: Abhijit Mondal, Raju Gaikwad, Gurwinder Singh, Uga Okpara, Robert Lalthlamuana, Sanju Pradhan (Ishfaq Ahmed), Subodh Kumar (Cavin Lobo), Penn Orji, Lalrindika Ralte, Baljit Singh Sahni (Robin Singh), Edeh Chidi

‘Poila Boisakh’ – Bengal’s New Year’s  Day will be celebrated on 15th April, 2013 at 10 a.m.  at the East Bengal Club ground.

Members & Fans are invited to join the event at the Club ground.

East Bengal Coach Trevor James Morgan stays the flavour of the season. From winning the Federation Cup to tasting success in the ongoing AFC Cup, East Bengal have been the side to beat. In a freewheeling interview with the-aiff.com, Morgan reflects on his time with East Bengal, the AFC Cup, the expectations, chances of winning the I-League and much more.  Interview by Debayan Mukherjee of AIFF Media Team. EXCERPTS:

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

I focus more on overall development: Trevor Morgan

You already have one foot in the Round of 16 of the AFC Cup, a feat which East Bengal last achieved in 2004. What are your expectations?

It will certainly be a great achievement to qualify from the Group Stage of the AFC Cup. But we haven’t sealed it as yet – we need one more point for that. I feel proud the manner my boys played – both at home and away. To overcome such a hectic schedule is not a joke. At the start of the season our target was to get through to the next round and I am glad we have almost achieved it.

The next round will be a tough one but the way my team has played so far, I strongly feel we can progress further. But I reiterate, we haven’t qualified for the next stage as yet.

You stay 5 points behind leaders Churchill Brothers in the I-League. Do you still believe you can win it?

We have to believe we can still clinch it -- otherwise what’s the point? Having said that, you need to remember that Churchill are in great form and there is no reason to think that they will drop points. But stranger things have happened in football. We have to make sure we win the four matches and hope Churchill drop points. Without hope and belief, the purpose of playing stays defeated.

You have every feather on your cap except the I-league. Is it frustrating to be so close to the League and not having won it ever?

I don’t lose sleep over not winning the I-League. We play in so many competitions throughout the season and there are bound to be spells where a team loses. I am more focused on the overall development of the club, and I as I see it we have improved leaps and bounds over the last three years.

We have won the Federation Cup twice and even the Calcutta Football League (CFL) and the IFA Shield. We have finished runners up twice in the I-League. I think we are on the right track and the credit goes to the boys.

Describe your three years with East Bengal. What has been the secret behind the success?

We have got good players and a settled system. When a new recruit joins the club, he quickly learns the ropes and that is fantastic. My boys work really hard and give their best. There is no secret as such. Hard work has paid dividends.

Can you educate us about your rotation policy of players.

When you are playing an I-League game on Saturday and then turning up for a CFL match next week on Tuesday, you have to shuffle your squad to avoid fatigue. I am blessed with an excellent squad and in my three years with the club, this year we have the strongest set. Our bench strength is very good and that allows me to do what I do.

What stays your finest hour with the Red and Gold?

(Laughs). There have been quite a few. But to pin-point one, it has to be winning the first Federation Cup, within three months of my arrival. I was a relatively unknown face in Indian football and that triumph made people trust in me as a Coach. Most importantly, it gave my players the confidence and belief. That confidence started evolving and we believed we could beat any team. That win made it possible.

Are you satisfied with the manner the club has shaped up under you in the last three years.

Personally, I take great satisfaction from the fact that the club has achieved considerable success over the past three years. I would not be able to compare it with the past as I have little knowledge. But yes, the boys have been exceptional and to see them and the club grow in front of my eyes was heartening.

Yes we have not won the I-League which is the most coveted crown but the fact that we have stood up to our reputation every inch was magnificent. In the League too we have been very consistent. In Cup Competitions we have been superb. I am a happy man.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

Lalrindika Ralte struck with four minutes remaining as India’s East Bengal extended their unbeaten record in the AFC Cup with a 2-1 win over Singapore’s Tampines Rovers on Tuesday.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

Substitute Edeh Chidi opened the scoring midway through the first half at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium with his second goal of the campaign only for Mohamad Shaiful Esah to pull Tampines level midway through the second half.

Photo: kingfishereastbengal.com

But with time running out, Ralte’s second goal of the campaign secured unbeaten East Bengal their third win of the campaign.

KINGFISHER EAST BENGAL: Abhijit Mondal, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Raju Gaikwad, Gurwinder Singh, Saumik Dey, Sanju Pradhan (Cavin Lobo), Mehtab Hossain, Penn Orji, Lalrindika Ralte, Andrew Barisic (Edeh Chidi), Manandeep Singh